Ukrainian court orders $134,000 bail for ex-US envoy Stefanishyna

A court in Kyiv has set bail at 6 million hryvnias (more than $134,000) for former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States Olha Stefanishyna, who is accused of illicit enrichment.

Ukraine's anti-corruption authorities said the former envoy filed false asset declarations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

Investigators allege she failed to declare two apartments in Kyiv, renovation expenses, rental payments, the use of a Mercedes-Benz, as well as airline tickets and medical treatment expenses for her mother.

Even Stefanishyna's lawyer had requested a significantly higher bail of 10 million hryvnias ($223,000), while prosecutors sought 13 million hryvnias (more than $290,000).

Stefanishyna came under investigation just two days after stepping down from her post in Washington.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov