Activist Gusakov, who has spinal muscular atrophy, was reported in absentia on suspicion of fraud
Law enforcement agencies have announced in absentia that 31-year-old Lviv resident Nazarii Husakov, who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), is suspected of fraud. About this reported in the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
“His charity campaign was accompanied by active informational support through social networks, Telegram channels, online platforms (PayPal, BuyMeACoffee, etc.) and with the participation of public figures and influencers who contributed to the spread of the collection”, says the message.
According to the information of the Lviv City Council, at the time of the fundraising, Husakov received the necessary medicines free of charge. Investigators established that he embezzled more than UAH 1.3 million received from individuals and legal entities.
“The collected funds were not fully used as intended, but were mostly directed to personal needs, gambling, investments in cryptocurrencies,” — reported in the press service of the OGP.
Husakov was informed in absentia of suspicion of fraud under the pretext of collecting funds for treatment (Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). He has been abroad since June 2025. The investigation questioned more than 400 people and recorded transactions worth more than UAH 100 million. The final number of donors is still being determined.
At the same time, Nazariya Husakova’s lawyer Nataliya Beldiy reported that her client is currently undergoing treatment in Italy and intends to return to Ukraine after a course of therapy to cooperate with the investigation.
We will remind, on June 7, messages appeared on the X social network that Lviv activist from the SMA Nazarii Husakov avoids answering requests for reports on the funds collected for treatment. Activists who participated in the fundraising campaign also began to spread the word.
The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovy, commented on the situation, noting that Nazarii receives the necessary medication from the city budget, and to increase the dose, he needs to undergo an additional examination. He also added that after the city bailed out, Nazariy was expected to stop fundraising.
The head of the city’s health care department, Marta Matyushko, said that since June 2024, Nazariy Husakov has been a participant in the city’s program for providing medicines to patients with SMA.
Husakov himself rejected all accusations of fraud. According to him, he bought part of the medicine unofficially in order to save money, and added that he received 28 vials of the drug per year from the city council, while his need is about 40 vials. Besides, he said, the money was also needed for other medicines, rehabilitation and daily needs.
On June 22, the National Police of Ukraine opened two criminal proceedings in the case of collecting funds for the treatment of Nazariy Husakov — under part 4 Art. 190 of the Criminal Code (fraud) and ch. 3 Art. 209 of the Criminal Code (laundering of criminal proceeds).
