Ukrainian court authorizes pre-trial detention of Kostiantyn Hryhoryshyn in energy embezzlement case

Ukrainian businessman Kostiantyn Hryhoryshyn is suspected of embezzling funds from the energy sector and has reportedly left the country. A court has now authorized his pre-trial detention, while prosecutors are preparing to seek an international arrest warrant.

A Ukrainian court today approved the request for pre-trial detention of Hryhoryshyn, who is currently outside the country. Prosecutors describe this decision as the first step toward obtaining an international arrest warrant against the businessman accused of misappropriating energy funds.

“The issue of contacting Interpol will be resolved in the future," the Prosecutor General’s Office said, referring to the international policing agency, which can issue a “Red Notice” asking member states to detain a suspect. 

"In addition, the pre-trial investigation body has imposed arrests on funds in banking institutions and on the corporate rights” of three of Hryhoryshyn’s companies, prosecutors told Schemes, which is RFE/RL’s investigative unit in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Bureau of Economic Security said in a March statement that about 68 million Ukrainian hryvnia ($1.3 million) was allegedly lost from an energy provider between 2020 and 2024 due to “fraudulent activities.” Along with top managers, he allegedly “created a fictitious position” that required him to work only four hours a week for a monthly salary of 1.5 million hryvnia ($29,204). 

Officials have confirmed to Schemes, OCCRP’s Ukrainian media partner, that Hryhoryshyn is suspected in the alleged embezzlement scheme.

Through his lawyers, Hryhoryshyn said this week that he denied the Ukrainian allegations and views them as politically motivated.

While Hryhoryshyn’s whereabouts are unknown, Schemes and OCCRP traced his footprint to luxury homes in France and Switzerland.

Luxembourg company registry data — gathered by Le Monde and shared with media partners — shows that Hryhoryshyn is the beneficial owner of a company that owns three plots of land in the French ski resort of Courchevel. The properties hold two chalets, Schemes and OCCRP reported this week. 

Luxembourg registry data also reveals that Hryhoryshyn updated his personal address in November to an estate on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. While he is not the registered owner of the Swiss property, the Geneva Canton gazette shows he recently submitted a local planning application to renovate it.

There’s no evidence to suggest that funds from the alleged embezzlement scheme were used to acquire or maintain these properties. 

Reporters sent Hryhoryshyn’s lawyers two requests for comment this week. While the lawyers stressed their client’s rejection of allegations against him, they did not provide specific responses to detailed questions.