Lawsuit by Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice
Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice has submitted a claim to the High Anti-Corruption Court seeking the confiscation of assets belonging to former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, who is currently under sanctions. Azarov fled to Russia after the Revolution of Dignity and now faces charges of high treason and involvement in a criminal organization. As of June 18, 2026, Ukraine has 23,135 sanctioned individuals, with over 15,000 of them having their assets frozen. This legal action is part of Kyiv’s broader effort to hold accountable those tied to Russian aggression.
Search and Seizure of Property
A search of Azarov’s apartment at 23 Petra Hryhorenka Avenue took place in December 2016. During this operation, authorities seized nearly 600 personal items, including antique books, icons, and an anti-recording security system. Among the confiscated objects are:
- A copy of 'The Life of Apostle Paul' (17th–18th century)
- 'The Apostle' (Lviv, 1772)
- 'Triodion of Lent' (Pochayiv Lavra, 1744)
- 'Description of Ukraine' by Guillaume Beauplan (1832)
- 'The Gospel' (Holy Dormition Lavra, 1780)
The collection also includes 38 depictions of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, a silver relief of 'Christ in the Crown of Thorns,' an icon of 'Saint Nicholas and Saint Ludmila,' and hunting rifles. At the time of the asset freeze in May 2017, authorities also seized a 'Buran 3' anti-eavesdropping system. All confiscated items are currently stored at the No. 1 Support Center of the National Police’s Main Directorate in Kyiv.
Mykola Azarov has been under Ukrainian sanctions since March 2021. In November 2023, the National Security and Defense Council extended these measures for another ten years. His son, Oleksiy Azarov, was added to the sanctions list in May 2025, with restrictions remaining in place until 2035. A key prerequisite for filing a confiscation lawsuit is the imposition of a blocking sanction after May 24, 2022.
Olena Vakulenko, a representative of the Ministry of Justice, stated: 'In court, our task is to prove that this property legally belongs to, say, Ivanov, but that sanctioned individuals (the Azarovs) can directly or indirectly carry out actions equivalent to exercising the right to dispose of it.'
She also emphasized that 'Ukraine’s sanctions policy as a rule-of-law state focuses on ensuring public, transparent, and objective proof of the grounds and circumstances for lawful state interference in the private property rights of accomplices of the aggressor country’s regime, in compliance with international law and Ukraine’s public order.'
Through this lawsuit, the Ministry of Justice continues its active enforcement of sanctions against individuals linked to Russia’s aggression, demonstrating the state’s commitment to protecting its interests and upholding the rule of law. Confiscating assets from former officials who support the aggressor is part of Ukraine’s broader fight against corruption and its pursuit of justice after years of political turmoil. This process also aligns with the country’s international obligations regarding human rights and legality.
As Ukraine intensifies its efforts to combat corruption and hold accountable those involved in high-profile crimes, the recent sentencing of a former Supreme Court chief to five years in prison with asset forfeiture highlights the government's commitment to justice. This case draws parallels to the ongoing legal actions against figures like Mykola Azarov, underscoring the broader implications of Ukraine's anti-corruption initiatives. For more on this significant development, see our coverage of the recent sentence of a former Supreme Court chief.