Fraud Charges Filed
A 43-year-old woman in Kyiv has been formally charged with fraud by the city's Pechersk District Prosecutor's Office. The case centers on her illicit receipt of compensation funds awarded by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to a soldier who went missing during a combat mission. In December 2024, the ECHR had ordered a compensation payment of 9,800 euros to the missing serviceman.
According to the investigation, the suspect submitted a forged power of attorney to Ukraine's Ministry of Justice, falsely claiming to be the soldier's common-law wife. This scheme enabled her to fraudulently obtain over 438,000 hryvnias. Her actions are being prosecuted as large-scale fraud under Part 4 of Article 190 of Ukraine's Criminal Code. The ECHR often awards compensation to victims of human rights violations, a process that can be exploited during times of conflict.
Ongoing Investigation and Asset Seizure
Authorities have seized the bank account where the illicit funds were deposited, and the investigation remains active. This case highlights the critical need for stringent oversight of compensation payments, especially during wartime when fraud attempts may increase. The ongoing probe is likely to lead to tighter verification procedures for documentation submitted to claim such funds, aiming to prevent similar crimes in the future.