Olga Stefanishyna named suspect in Ukraine corruption case

Ukraine’s former ambassador to Washington, Olga Stefanishyna, has been named a suspect in a corruption case, the country’s High Anti-Corruption Court and investigators said Thursday.

The court said Stefanishyna had been “notified of suspicion of illicit enrichment and providing false information in a declaration”. It said she was released on bail of 6 million hryvnias, or $134,000.

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau said she was suspected of illicit enrichment involving more than 13.9 million hryvnias. Investigators accuse her of having undeclared assets, including apartments and other property, that they say could not be explained by her official income.

Stefanishyna rejected the seriousness of the case, saying: “I regard these events calmly and without unnecessary emotion, and the noise around this story looks more like a storm in a teacup.” She posted a photo of herself appearing to be at the court and said she had already commented on media reports concerning property.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Stefanishyna from the Washington post on Monday. He has not officially appointed a replacement. Zelensky said last week he had offered the position to Yulia Svyrydenko, a former prime minister, but added that discussions were continuing.

The ambassadorship is a crucial post for Kyiv because Ukraine depends on US arms deliveries and intelligence-sharing in the conflict against Russia.