The High Anti-Corruption Court resumed the hearing on 7 September to decide on a preventive measure for Yelyzaveta Ivakhnenko, who is a suspect in the “Carthage” case. The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is seeking remand in custody with an alternative of bail set at UAH 50 million. The defence is asking for a more lenient preventive measure.
According to the prosecution, Ivakhnenko and her family took part in legalising funds obtained illegally by a criminal organisation — property was registered in their names. A sole proprietorship was registered in Ivakhnenko’s mother’s name, although in reality she did not conduct any business activity.
The suspects tried to destroy evidence of illegal activity, as she was planning to enter the civil service.
“The person, effectively understanding the fact that there were relevant illegal funds being generated as a result of unlawful activity, specifically by whom they were generated, took steps to legalise them, while at the same time intending to take up a state position, and for this used a range of explanations, sought advice on how to do it,” the prosecutor said.
He noted that Ivakhnenko intended to work as a deputy minister of education of Ukraine.
The prosecution believes there are risks that Ivakhnenko could leave the country, as she was detained at Lviv railway station, and that she could evade the investigation, since she was the cohabiting partner of the main suspect, Serhii Kropyva, and carried out his instructions. The investigation also sees a risk of undue influence, as Ivakhnenko is acquainted with the Prosecutor General.
The main suspect in the case is an employee of the Prosecutor General’s Office, Serhiy Kropyva, who appears in the investigation materials as “the Chancellor”. Yesterday the High Anti-Corruption Court remanded him in custody with the option of bail set at UAH 120 million.
The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office reported that Kropyva brought colleagues and people close to him into a criminal organisation that systematically received unlawful benefits in exchange for not obstructing the operation of fraudulent call centres. As NABU detectives established, the organisation’s members laundered the proceeds by purchasing property, jewellery and other valuable movable assets. The total value of such assets exceeds UAH 20 million.
According to the investigation, a further more than UAH 10 million was laundered through the accounts of close associates, including Ivakhnenko, who appears in the investigation as “the Muse”. The funds were presented as income from business activity.
The “Carthage” investigation
On 4 September, NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced a special operation to expose a criminal organisation led by an official from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. According to NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, members of the organisation created in 2025 may be involved in providing “protection” to a network of fraudulent call centres and in laundering assets.
Five people are under suspicion. The charges are under Article 255 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (establishing and leading a criminal organisation, as well as participation in it) and Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (legalisation (laundering) of property). In the suspects’ conversations, a “Boss” is also mentioned — a person who directed Kropyva. No suspicion has been announced against this person as of now.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko says he is not involved in the case.