The SBI seized the accounts of online casinos connected to Russia in the amount of more than UAH 2.9 billion
State bureau of investigations based on court decisions arrested bank accounts of a number of online casinos that have a direct connection with representatives of Russia. The total amount of seized funds exceeds 2.9 billion hryvnias.
Measures for the management of seized assets
Currently, the issue of transferring the seized funds to the National Agency of Ukraine for Identification, Search and Management of Assets Obtained from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA) is being resolved.
Denial of information about the removal of arrests
The SBI refutes the information spread by some media about the alleged removal of arrests from the accounts of one of the online casinos. The court only allowed the funds to be used exclusively for paying taxes, fees and wages.
Investigation of illegal activities of online casinos
As part of the criminal proceedings, the SBI confirmed the illegal mechanism of activity of a number of online casinos that received licenses in Ukraine, but have connections with Russia and sanctioned persons. Individual employees of law enforcement agencies, subjects of supervision, as well as banking and payment institutions participated in their activities.
Criminal proceedings and procedural management
The investigation is being conducted under articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine related to the financing of actions aimed at a violent change of power, legalization of proceeds obtained through crime, the creation of a criminal organization, and the inaction of law enforcement agencies. Procedural management is carried out by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
