Court Dismisses Case Against Former Odessa Regional State Administration Official

In Odesa, a court dismissed the criminal case against the former director of a department of the Odesa Regional State Administration, who had been accused of embezzling public funds. 

The Center for Public Investigations examined the details of the case.

According to the prosecution, in 2019–2020, the then-director of the Department of Investment, International, and Interregional Cooperation of the Odesa Regional State Administration arranged a fictitious employment position for a person under her control.

However, according to the investigation, the woman did not actually work, yet her presence was recorded in the time sheets, which allowed her to be paid a salary. Law enforcement estimates put the total amount of losses at 118,511 hryvnias. In January 2023, the proceedings were suspended, and the official was placed on the wanted list.

The official herself explained that she had left for Dubai with her daughter in February 2022, and after the full-scale invasion began, she moved to the United States out of safety concerns. In September 2024, she voluntarily petitioned the court to resume proceedings and allow her to participate remotely.

The judge ruled that the woman had not intentionally gone into hiding and that the five-year statute of limitations had expired on February 5, 2025. The court also took into account the full reimbursement of damages to the state and the transfer of 72,000 hryvnias to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As a result, the judge exonerated the former official from criminal liability and dismissed the case. House arrest and the seizure of her property and funds were also lifted.

Анна Літман