Ukraine's Justice Ministry Takes Former PM to Court Over Nearly 600 Antique Books and Icons

Legal Battle Targets Mykola Azarov and His Son

According to Главком: Ukraine's Ministry of Justice has initiated legal proceedings against former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his son Oleksiy, aiming to seize their assets. The case, which began in May 2026, already spans 28 volumes. Among the property confiscated in 2016 are nearly 600 items, including:

• books
• paintings
• collectible coins
• icons
• dinnerware sets
• personal belongings

The assets were seized in December 2016 from a Kyiv apartment located at 23 Petra Hryhorenka Avenue, within a 24-story residential complex in the Darnytskyi district. In May 2017, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv ordered the freezing of Mykola Azarov's property. The confiscated items include rare books such as 'The Life of Apostle Paul' (17th–18th century), 'Apostol' (Lviv, 1772), 'Triod Postnaya' (1744, Pochayiv Lavra), 'Description of Ukraine' by Guillaume Beauplan (1832), and 'Gospel' (1780, Holy Dormition Lavra).

Seized Objects and Sanctions

Other items in the confiscated collection include 38 icons, notably an image of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, a silver relief titled 'Christ in the Crown of Thorns,' an icon of 'Saint Nicholas and Saint Ludmila,' as well as hunting rifles. Also seized was a 'Buran 3' anti-eavesdropping system. All seized assets are being held as evidence at Center No. 1 of the Main Department of the National Police in Kyiv.

In late May, the High Anti-Corruption Court issued a ruling prohibiting any transactions involving Azarov's frozen assets. It is worth noting that Mykola Azarov has been under Ukrainian sanctions since March 2021, and in November 2023, the National Security and Defense Council extended these restrictions for ten years. Oleksiy Azarov was added to Ukraine's sanctions list in May 2025, with the measures set to remain in force until 2035.

As 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 sanctioned individuals (the Azarovs) can directly or indirectly perform actions equivalent to exercising the right to dispose of it.'

This asset seizure case against former top Ukrainian officials is part of a broader anti-corruption drive aimed at returning illegally obtained funds and property to the state budget. The proceedings underscore the Ukrainian government's efforts to combat corruption and restore rule of law-a key concern for international partners and donors supporting Ukraine amid ongoing political and economic challenges.

This legal case highlights a broader trend in Ukraine's ongoing efforts to combat corruption and reclaim assets linked to former officials. In a similar vein, a former Supreme Court chief was recently sentenced to prison with asset forfeiture, underscoring the judiciary's commitment to accountability in the face of corruption within the government.