Former Ukrainian envoy misses bail deadline as anti-corruption case deepens

Former Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna has not paid the UAH 6 million ($145,000) bail imposed by the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) on August 6, the court’s press service said.

“The UAH 6 million bail for the former ambassador to the United States has not been paid,” Kateryna Shypilova said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

Under the court’s ruling, Stefanishyna had five business days to pay the bail. If the amount is not deposited within the designated period, prosecutors may ask the court to impose a stricter preventive measure.

Meanwhile, on August 11, Stefanishyna’s lawyers appealed the HACC ruling on her preventive measure to the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court. The appeal is expected to be considered in the near future.

In addition to the bail, the court imposed several procedural obligations on Stefanishyna. She must appear when summoned by National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) detectives, a prosecutor, an investigating judge or the court; notify NABU, the prosecutor or the court of any change of residence; and refrain from contacting individuals specified in the investigating judge’s ruling.

Stefanishyna has been notified that she is suspected of illicit enrichment and making false declarations.

On August 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Stefanishyna from her post as ambassador to the United States.

By Vafa Guliyeva