The SSU has neutralized a criminal group that terrorized residents near Ukraine’s western border. As a result of a special operation in Zakarpattia, the SSU detained the gang’s leader - a current member of the oblast council and a crime boss.

The offender is a long-time associate of Viktor Medvedchuk (who also a godfather to his child), who once appointed him the head of the regional branch of the banned opposition platform - for life party.

In March 2022, the criminal even planned to become a member of parliament instead of his fellow party member Ilya Kiva, who was deprived of a parliamentary mandate.

According to the investigation, the detained regional council deputy organized a gang that intimidated residents of the border region and extorted money from them.

To do this, they created artificial conflict situations or false ‘commercial’ disputes and demanded money for ‘resolution’.

If people refused to pay, the criminals threatened victims with violence and ‘confiscation’ of private property.

The SSU documented the gang’s head, together with his ‘right hand’, another crime lord, extort USD 135,000 from a local businessman.

To force the man to give the money, one of the offenders stole the victim’s car and promised to return it if the latter paid the full amount of the fictitious ‘debt’.

The SSU detained the main suspect and his accomplice ‘red-handed’ when they received USD 20,000 from the entrepreneur.

During the searches of the suspects’ homes and offices, the SSU found material evidence of the unlawful activity.

The offenders have been apprehended and will be served notices of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

·      189.4 (extortion committed by an organized group under martial law);

·      289.3 (illegal seizure of a vehicle).

The court is to decide on custody as a measure of restraint.

The investigation is ongoing. The suspects are facing up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office.