Suspected of budget fraud: former mayor from Transcarpathia extradited from Romania

A former mayor of a city in Transcarpathia has been extradited from Romania to Ukraine, suspected of embezzling budget funds during the construction of a rehabilitation and health center. The man was previously put on the international wanted list.

This was reported by the National Police of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, when the man was the head of the city, he signed documents confirming the full completion of the construction of the rehabilitation and health center. Law enforcement officials claim that in reality the scope and cost of the work were overstated.

The former mayor was informed of the suspicion in absentia in July 2023. At that time, he went on a business trip abroad and did not return to Ukraine.

He was later placed on an international wanted list by Interpol. In late 2025, the man was detained in the Czech Republic and banned from leaving the country. Despite this, he left for Romania, where he was again detained by the police.

On September 10, the Romanian side handed over the former minister to Ukraine at the Porubne checkpoint. After that, the court remanded him in custody and allowed him to post 332.8 thousand hryvnias of bail.

The former mayor is charged with embezzlement of property through abuse of office and issuing a knowingly false official document.