The mayor of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi has had his pretrial detention extended

Vitaliy Grazhdan, the mayor of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, who is on trial for extortion, has been remanded in custody for another 60 days. The court also extended his suspension from the office of mayor.

This is stated in a ruling by the Primorsky District Court of Odesa.

The court extended Grazhdan’s detention in the Odesa pretrial detention center for another two months. He was also suspended from his position as mayor for another two months. 

The defense requested that his detention be replaced with house arrest or another non-custodial preventive measure. The court denied this motion. 

Bail was set at 4.992 million hryvnias. Grazhdan or another person may post this amount at any time. Once bail is posted, he is to be released from custody.

The hearing was held via videoconference. The defense attorneys requested a change in the pretrial measure, while the victim in the case supported the prosecutor’s position. Hrazdan himself also objected to the extension of his detention. 

The court pointed out several risks:

•  Grazhdan may abscond;
•  he may influence the victim and witnesses;
•  he may commit another criminal offense.

Separately, the court noted that the witnesses in the case have not yet been questioned, so the risk of influencing them remains. The court also took into account that Grazhdan is already facing criminal charges in another proceeding. 

The case materials regarding unidentified individuals who may have acted in concert with Grazhdan have been separated into a separate proceeding. Their identities are still being determined.

A separate investigation is underway into another suspect, who has been placed on the wanted list. Embedded Markdown text

The Grazhdan Case

Intent is following the case of the mayor of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi.

According to the investigation, in July 2024, Grazhdan, together with individuals whom the investigation believes to be under his control, organized an attack on the co-owner of a resort in Serhiivka. According to investigators, they demanded that the woman transfer 50% of the corporate rights to the property, threatening her and her relatives with violence.

The mayor is charged with extortion. However, his guilt has not yet been established by a court verdict.

In May 2026, the court set bail in this case for the first time at 9.984 million hryvnias. After that, the amount was reduced three times:

•  in July—to 8.32 million hryvnias;
•  in August —to 6.656 million hryvnias;
•  andnow —to 4.992 million hryvnias.

Ірина Глухова