Ukraine's ex-US envoy suspected of 'illicit enrichment', freed on bail

Ukraine's former ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, is suspected of illicit enrichment after the country's High Anti-Corruption Court said she had been "notified of suspicion of illicit enrichment and providing false information in a declaration".

The court said she was released on bail of six million hryvnias (US$134,000).

Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau said she was suspected of "illicit enrichment" involving more than 13.9 million hryvnias. She is accused of holding undeclared assets — apartments and other property — that investigators say could not be explained by her official income.

Stefanishyna responds

Responding to the accusation, Stefanishyna said: "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.

Stefanishyna said she had already "quite thoroughly commented" on media reports "including those concerning property".

Washington post left vacant

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed her on Monday from her posting in Washington.

He has not officially appointed a replacement for what is a crucial position for Ukraine, as Kyiv depends on US arms deliveries and intelligence-sharing in the conflict against Russia.

Zelensky said last week that he had offered the position to Yulia Svyrydenko, a former prime minister, but added that discussions were still going on.

As reported, authorities have issued a notice of suspicion against Stefanishyna, a step in the Ukrainian legal process, and she has been released on bail while the matter proceeds.