The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) has launched a criminal investigation into the alleged misconduct of Acting Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine – and current Minister of Justice – Olha Stefanishyna.
This was confirmed to Suspilne by SAPO spokesperson Olha Postoliuk.
According to her, SAPO initiated the proceedings based on facts reported in a Ukrainska Pravda article. No one has been formally charged at this time. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
MP Oleksiy Honcharenko of the “European Solidarity” party reported that a group of lawmakers had appealed to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), requesting an investigation into the possible misconduct by Stefanishyna “and other individuals.”
SAPO opened the criminal case on June 11, 2025. The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).
Stefanishyna is suspected of abuse of power or office, which caused grave consequences (Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). This article provides for a punishment of imprisonment for a term of three to six years, with disqualification from holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to three years, and a fine ranging from 500 to 1,000 non-taxable minimum incomes.
In an investigation by Ukrainska Pravda published on June 4, it was reported that ARMA selected a company to manage the Trade Unions Building in Kyiv, which may be connected to the family of Stefanishyna, particularly her ex-husband. According to the investigation, this is already the fourth valuable asset received by the same company.
Stefanishyna herself stated that she has no connection to her ex-husband’s activities.
“The eternal problem with exes I thought I had already gotten used to my name being used in various contexts, but apparently not. After reading the article, I was surprised by the obsessive attempt to involve me – in any way – in the affairs of my ex-husband, with whom my contact is limited solely to matters concerning our two children. I made this very clear in my detailed response to the journalists’ inquiry,” she said.
In a response made public today, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) confirmed that the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) had launched a criminal investigation on June 11, 2025, under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – abuse of power or office resulting in serious consequences.
Notably, the response does not mention Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna as a figure involved in the case. Her name does not appear as a suspect or subject of the investigation, despite recent public speculation.
As of now, there is no official confirmation that Stefanishyna has any procedural status in the case – either as a suspect or even as a witness.
This updates have been made after Zelenskyy Appoints Stefanishyna as His Envoy, Proposes Her as Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S.
Now you see how politics work in Ukraine: anything is possible. You can be completely honest, yet your name may still be dragged into a political or criminal scandal. And when the narrative no longer serves a purpose, any mention of your supposed guilt quietly disappears.
We believe Olha Stefanishyna’s extensive on-the-ground experience makes her the strongest candidate among the current options to represent Ukraine as Ambassador to the United States. Ukrainian citizens deserve to be represented by someone of Ukrainian origin who is a seasoned professional in diplomacy.
