Overview
- Germany detained the ex-lawmaker on January 3, and Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office says he will be extradited.
- Investigators allege 2017 manipulations with domestic government bonds generated over 20 million hryvnias of artificial income.
- Formal accusations were issued in August 2023, and a Ukrainian court ordered pre-trial detention in October 2024 before an international wanted notice followed.
- Officials have not named the suspect, while Ukrainian media report he is Ruslan Demchak, a former People’s Deputy from the European Solidarity bloc.
- Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation cites suspected large-scale laundering tied to the scheme, and it says a simplified extradition process could take about three months.