Ex-deputy head of Zelenskyy's Office remanded in custody with bail set at US$447,000

Anastasia Prots, Volodymyr Fomichov - 25 August, 10:18

Iryna Mudra is led out of the courtroom on 25 August. Photo: Volodymyr Fomichov, UP

The High Anti-Corruption Court has ordered that Iryna Mudra, former deputy head of the President's Office, be remanded in custody with bail set at UAH 20 million (about US$447,000).

Source: High Anti-Corruption Court hearing

Details: The court ordered Mudra to be taken into custody for a period of 60 days.

At the same time, the court set an alternative pre-trial restriction in the form of bail of UAH 20 million.

"A pre-trial restriction shall be applied to the suspect, Iryna Mudra, in the form of custody for a period of 60 days. Bail for Iryna Mudra shall be set at UAH 20 million," the judge stated.

After the decision was announced, Mudra said she would attempt to raise the necessary bail amount.

According to Mudra, she has part of the money herself and plans to seek the remainder from acquaintances and friends.

"I will turn to acquaintances and friends and try to find this money," she said.

Asked whether her friends have UAH 20 million, Mudra replied that she has been working for 17 years and has acquired "enough contacts" over that time.

She also said her lawyers would assess the legal grounds of the court ruling and file an appeal if necessary.

Background:

The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) stated that Mudra may have assets in excess of UAH 250 million (US$5.6 million), and the prosecution therefore requested bail of UAH 150 million (US$3.3 million) as an alternative to custody.
Mudra's defence lawyer argued that the bail amount was disproportionate. The lawyer considers the suspicion unfounded and requested that no pre-trial restriction be applied.
Jonathan Benyamin Markovitch, the Chief Rabbi of Kyiv, has declared his readiness to stand surety for Mudra. He said they have known each other for several years, and that Mudra attended the congregation to "pray and be in touch with the Almighty".
In total, two people have stated that they are willing to stand surety for Mudra.
On the morning of 19 August, UP sources reported that anti-corruption agencies were conducting searches at the premises of MP Vadim Stolar and Iryna Mudra as part of a special operation. Stolar later confirmed that investigative actions were taking place at his home. He also asserted that he was cooperating with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).
It was subsequently reported that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had dismissed Mudra as deputy head of the President's Office.
Former MP Maksym Mykytas was at Iryna Mudra's home when NABU and SAPO arrived to conduct searches.
The High Anti-Corruption Court has remanded Mykytas in custody with bail set at UAH 30 million (US$671,000).

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