MP Vadym Stolar reportedly charged under five criminal statutes
According to Bihus.Info, Vadym Stolar is charged with a number of crimes, for which he faces up to 15 years in prison. (Photo: Vadym Stolar via Facebook)
Ukrainian lawmaker Vadym Stolar was notified of suspicion under five separate articles of the Criminal Code on Aug. 20 but was outside Ukraine when searches were conducted and the charges were announced, Bihus.Info reported, citing law enforcement sources.
Stolar is suspected, among other things, of creating a criminal organization, unlawfully taking possession of property, document forgery and unauthorized interference with information systems.
The charge of creating a criminal organization carries a potential prison sentence of seven to 12 years with confiscation of property.
Unauthorized interference with information systems committed under martial law carries a potential sentence of 10 to 15 years.
Stolar’s alleged role in Forrest Gump and Themis cases
Stolar confirmed on Aug. 19 that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) was searching his home.
He said at the time that he was “openly cooperating with NABU representatives and creating no obstacles to the work of law enforcement.”
The same day, NABU announced Operation Forrest Gump, saying investigators had uncovered a group that allegedly laundered UAH 150 million (about $3.35 million) in cash to post bail for a defendant in the Midas case.
NABU did not publicly identify that person, but the report said it was likely former official Herman Halushchenko, for whom bail in that amount was posted in late June.
Investigators said the alleged scheme involved a deputy head of the Presidential Office, a former member of parliament, the chairman of a state-owned bank’s management board and the chairman of its supervisory board.
The group allegedly used a state-owned bank and accounts of controlled companies to carry out the operation.
Searches were conducted at Sense Bank’s head office that day, and the bank confirmed the investigative actions.
NABU and SAPO reveal alleged raider scheme
On Aug. 20, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) released another set of recordings in a separate case dubbed Themis.
Investigators allege that members of a criminal organization unlawfully seized assets belonging to companies worth more than UAH 248 million (about $5.54 million) and attempted to gain control of Kyiv real estate worth more than UAH 207 million (about $4.62 million).
NABU and SAPO said the alleged criminal organization operated under the leadership of a current and a former member of parliament — Stolar and former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas.
A SAPO representative said Mykytas and Stolar had created the organization no later than Nov. 15, 2024.
Investigators cited what prosecutors described as an informal “understanding agreement” as evidence of alleged arrangements between the two men.
Deputy head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra is also among the suspects.
Prosecutors allege that Mudra may have influenced Deputy Justice Minister Olena Ferens in matters related to the Justice Ministry’s anti-raider commission.
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