You're reading: Ukrainian embassy employee to be sued for visa fraud

An employee of the consular department of the Ukrainian embassy in an eastern country, while registering over 300 visas for entry into Ukraine, included in a financial report misleading figures about the amount of the consular fee levied on foreign nationals, the press service of the Kyiv prosecutor's office reported on July 16.

It was found after an investigation into a criminal case on abuse of office that as a result of these actions, Ukraine’s state budget did not receive over Hr 260,000 in January-September 2012.

“Instead of properly fulfilling his duties to replenish the state budget, an embassy representative transferred the funds received from foreigners to third parties,” the head of the investigation department at the Kyiv prosecutor’s office, Maksym Riabenko, said.

Criminal proceedings against a 33-year-old diplomat were investigated under Part 2, Article 364 of the Criminal Code (abuse of power or office). The materials with the indictment have currently been submitted to court for consideration.

In addition, Riabenko said that during the pre-trial investigation the defendant had reimbursed the damage caused to the state in full.