Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) has filed a lawsuit with the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) to confiscate the assets of Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba.
The agency argued that Kuleba’s property purchases do not align with what has been his official income.
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In a press release, SAPO said that in 2021, while serving as the first deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration, Kuleba signed preliminary agreements to purchase an apartment and a parking space in Kyiv with the help of his sister.
The investigation also found that in 2023, while working in the Presidential Office, Kuleba organized the final paperwork, registration of property rights, and conclusion of service agreements for this property. SAPO said Kuleba involved his driver in this process.
After reviewing Kuleba’s family’s official earnings, SAPO argued that they were insufficient to purchase the property.
The agency has requested the HACC to forcibly seize the aforementioned property into state ownership.
Later, in a comment to the state media Ukrinform, Kuleba said he would cooperate with the investigation into the legality of the origin of his acquired assets.
“In connection with the information regarding the filing of the lawsuit, I would like to inform that I am a defendant in the specified case, and I treat the legally established procedures and powers of law enforcement and judicial authorities with respect,” he said.
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Kuleba said the case is a civil matter, not a criminal proceeding.
“At the same time, I believe it is important to emphasize that this is a civil judicial process concerning the evaluation of the legality of the assets’ origin, rather than a criminal proceeding or the bringing of charges. Final conclusions in the case must be made exclusively by the court after a comprehensive examination of all evidence and circumstances,” he added.
Kuleba said he has not concealed his income, property, or any other information subject to declaration throughout his entire public career.
Kuleba added that all necessary information was reflected in his asset declarations, in accordance with the procedure established by law, and that they remain publicly accessible.
Who is Oleksiy Kuleba?
Kuleba’s public career in leadership positions began at the Kyiv City State Administration, where he served as first deputy head for local government powers. On Feb. 8, 2022, by decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky, he was appointed head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration (OVA).
In March 2022, with the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the leadership of the Kyiv OVA was temporarily transferred to military commander Oleksandr Pavlyuk, while Kuleba coordinated the work of the region’s humanitarian headquarters.
In May of the same year, Kuleba again officially headed the Kyiv OVA, replacing Oleksandr Pavlyuk in this position in accordance with presidential decrees.
Subsequently, from January 2023 to September 2024, Kuleba served as deputy head of the Presidential Office.
In September 2024, Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, approved Kuleba as deputy prime minister for the restoration of Ukraine – minister of community and territorial development.
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