Court Lifts Freeze on Cash Found in Ex-Wife's Apartment Linked to Russian Hero Derkach

A 'Hero of Russia' Sends Greetings to Ukraine

According to Главком: On May 21, the High Anti-Corruption Court overturned the seizure of funds that had been confiscated from the Kyiv apartment of Oksana Terekhova, the former wife of former lawmaker Andriy Derkach. The seized money totaled 49,000 euros, $10,500, and 200,000 Ukrainian hryvnias. These assets had been classified as physical evidence in a high treason case against Derkach, who fled to Russia shortly after the full-scale war began and was subsequently awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

The asset freeze had been in place since mid-August 2022, but the latest court ruling contradicts a previous decision from February 14, 2024, which explicitly prohibited lifting the seizure until a verdict was reached. The apartment where the cash was discovered is located in central Kyiv at 9A Mykhaila Hrushevskoho Street. During the search, investigators also uncovered several personal belongings of Andriy Derkach, including:

• photographs
• an official ID badge
• his employment record book
• autobiographical statements
• a military ID
• foreign passports

Inside the safe containing the cash, authorities found the original lease agreement for a bank safe deposit box, dated May 22, 2017, which had been signed between Derkach and the bank. Since December 2023, the court has been hearing a case charging Derkach with high treason and illicit enrichment. Investigators allege that Derkach received between $3 million and $4 million for conducting subversive activities against Ukraine, with a specific reward of $567,000 paid out between 2019 and 2022.

The Asset Seizure Controversy

The High Anti-Corruption Court stated that 'there are sufficient grounds to believe that the funds are the subject of a criminal offense and were acquired through criminal means.' According to the prosecution, Derkach obtained these illicit benefits through intermediaries by leveraging his authority as a Ukrainian lawmaker to act in the interests of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, aiming to undermine Ukraine.

It is worth recalling that Andriy Derkach was allegedly recruited by the Russian General Staff leadership in 2016, with the spy network reportedly run by Igor Kostyukov and his first deputy, Volodymyr Alekseyev. In late June 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced the dismantling of this network, underscoring the gravity of the charges against Derkach. Derkach and Terekhova divorced in February 2020, adding another layer of complexity to the case.

The reversal of the asset seizure in Derkach’s case raises concerns about potential abuses within the justice system and highlights the challenges of prosecuting treason-related crimes. The loss of key physical evidence could hinder further legal proceedings against Derkach, especially given his alleged ties to Russian intelligence. This situation also underscores the critical need for transparency and effectiveness in Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions. In the midst of war and foreign aggression, cases like this carry profound implications for national security and the country's stability.

The recent ruling regarding the funds linked to Andriy Derkach adds to the ongoing legal turmoil surrounding prominent figures involved in high-profile corruption cases. In a similar vein, the court has also taken significant action against former presidential office head Yermak, who is facing serious charges and a substantial bail. For more details on this unfolding story, check out our coverage of the arrest of Yermak and the implications of his case.