Ukraine Charges Former Supreme Court Deputy with Money Laundering
Bohdan Lvov faces new charges over assets worth 26 million hryvnia. The case highlights ongoing judicial reform demands.
Key points
- Bohdan Lvov was charged with money laundering over 26 million hryvnia in assets.
- He was previously dismissed for concealing his Russian citizenship from the court.
- The case adds pressure for Ukraine to reform its judiciary for EU accession.
On September 23, Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau charged Bohdan Lvov with money laundering. He formerly served as deputy head of the Supreme Court. This action follows his earlier dismissal from the judiciary.
Lvov was fired in 2022 after his hidden Russian citizenship was revealed. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau states he acquired significant assets recently. These included real estate and land plots valued at 26 million hryvnia.
Charges target hidden asset ownership
According to the bureau, Lvov allegedly used a subordinate to hide funds. The property was registered in the name of her mother. This method was intended to obscure the true source of the money.
The bureau also charged the former subordinate and her mother. A law enforcement source confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the charges refer to Lvov. He has not yet commented on these specific allegations.
History of judicial integrity failures
Investigations in 2022 showed Lvov held a valid Russian passport. The Security Service of Ukraine later confirmed this finding. This violated the constitutional ban on judges with foreign citizenship.
Earlier reviews in 2017 found Lvov did not meet ethics standards. Despite this, judicial authorities appointed him anyway. This pattern has fueled long-standing calls for systemic reform in Ukraine’s courts.
Broader reform pressures remain unresolved
The European Union has made court reform a key accession requirement. Ukrainian authorities have yet to implement these necessary changes. Recent convictions of other judges underscore the scale of the problem.
In June 2026, a court sentenced former chief Vsevolod Kniazev to five years in jail. He was found guilty of bribery involving multiple judges. Observers are now watching for further prosecutions in the judicial system.
