In the case involving the "Naum" gang in Mykolaiv, the court has determined the procedure for hearing the case

In Mykolaiv, a court has determined the procedure for examining evidence in a case involving extortion, in which criminal figure Igor Naumenko(“Naum”) and two other defendants are implicated.

This was reported by PN.

According to the investigation, in early July 2025, during a meeting with Mysak Avganian in Mykolaiv, Naumenko demanded $2,000 from him. In exchange for this money, his son, Khachatur Avganyan—who was being held at the Mykolaiv pretrial detention center—was allegedly to be spared violence.

According to the prosecutor, inmate Yuriy Salnyk, Delya Muntean, and two unidentified individuals namedOlegandRichard were involved in the scheme. Salnik presumably used his informal influence among the inmates and helped arrange for Khachatur Avganyan to be placed in cell No. 115. There, he was pressured and extorted for $5,000.

The victim called his father from a cell phone provided to him by Salnik and asked him to send the money. Misak Avganian agreed to give $2,000. According to the prosecution, on July 15, 2025, Naumenko informed Munteanu that he had received the money and planned to buy cigarettes with it.

Naumenko and Salnik are charged with extortion by a group of persons acting in concert under martial law (Article 189, Part 4, of the Criminal Code). Muntean is charged with aiding and abetting (Article 27, Part 5, and Article 189, Part 4, of the Criminal Code).

During the reading of the indictment, Judge Svitlana Skrypchenko asked the prosecutor several clarifying questions. In particular, she inquired how Salnyk could have influenced the assignment of cells in the pretrial detention center if such decisions are made by the facility’s administration.

The judge also asked whether an investigation had been conducted into the actions of the pretrial detention center staff. The prosecutor replied that an investigation had taken place, but he did not know its results. In addition, the judge noted the absence of a hryvnia equivalent for the damages and a breakdown of the procedural costs. According to the prosecutor, these costs are related to expert examinations.

The prosecutor proposed starting with the written evidence. Naumenko, Muntean, Salnik, and their defense attorneys requested that the victims be questioned first.

Naumenko denied any involvement in extortion. He emphasized that the proceedings were initiated based on a report, not on a complaint from the victims, and demanded that Oleg and Richard be identified.

The court opted for a different order:

1. Written evidence from the prosecution.
2. Examination of the victims and prosecution witnesses.
3. Written evidence and witnesses for the defense.
4. Examination of the defendants.

The victims and their representative did not appear at the November 13 hearing, so the court proceeded with the case in their absence. The prosecutor requested time to finalize the list of written evidence, so the hearing was rescheduled for November 27.

Naumenko was arrested in 2025. He is suspected of forming a criminal organization and extorting money.

According to investigators, he attempted to take over an agricultural enterprise in the Odesa region, demanding $550,000 or a fleet of 60 trucks from the owner.

He is also suspected of exerting criminal influence in pretrial detention centers and penal colonies, controlling criminal groups, and collecting money for a “common fund.”

Naumenko had previously served a prison sentence but was released from Arbuzinsky Correctional Colony No. 83 in May 2023.

Ірина Глухова