A former Odessa lawmaker was sent to a pretrial detention center after his extradition

A former member of the Odesa City Council, who was extradited from Romania, has been taken into custody and had bail set. He is suspected of illegally appropriating municipal property using forged documents, which, according to investigators, caused the community losses of more than 11.3 million hryvnias.

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

According to investigators, the alleged scheme has been in operation since 2011. The former council member, a co-organizer, and other participants—who divided roles among themselves—may have been involved.

Investigators believe that companies and civic organizations under their control were used to seize the real estate. Initially, they may have leased municipal premises and then purchased them without competition. Using forged technical certificates, certificates of ownership, and other documents, the group’s members allegedly registered ownership of attics and basements that had not been leased to the community.

According to the case file, the properties in question include two attics measuring 462.8 and 370.7 square meters, a basement measuring 290.4 square meters, and a 586-square-meter plot of municipally owned land. The investigation estimated the community’s losses at 11.3 million hryvnias. Some of the real estate, including apartments, was subsequently sold for over 10.7 million hryvnias.

In May 2024, the man was notified of the charges against him, and he was subsequently placed on an international wanted list. On October 13, 2026, he was extradited from Romania to Ukraine.

The Peresypsky District Court of Odesa remanded the suspect in custody until November 16, 2026, and set bail. 

The police have not disclosed the suspect’s name. However, Intent reported that the suspect is likely Oleksandr Matveev.

Анна Літман