The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine is set to review four appeals on March 2 regarding the detention of former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. The appeals challenge a court decision that imposed pre-trial detention as a preventive measure.
According to lawyer Vitaliy Sviripov, the defense argues that the detention is excessively harsh. “We request either round-the-clock house arrest or a reasonable bail amount,” Sviripov stated. Halushchenko has previously indicated that he could manage a bail set between 20 to 30 million hryvnias.
Prosecutors from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) have also filed an appeal, seeking a bail amount of 425 million hryvnias. SAP spokesperson Olga Postolyuk confirmed that one appeal was submitted by the prosecutor, while the other three were filed by Halushchenko’s defense team.
On February 17, the High Anti-Corruption Court ordered Halushchenko’s detention with the possibility of bail set at 200 million hryvnias. His arrest occurred on February 15 as he attempted to cross the state border, according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). During the court session, Halushchenko asserted that he was not fleeing, stating, “If I wanted to escape, I would have done so.”
Halushchenko faces charges of money laundering and involvement in a criminal organization. Investigators allege that in February 2021, a fund was registered on the island of Anguilla, initiated by members of a criminal organization exposed by NABU and SAP in November 2025. This fund aimed to attract approximately $100 million in investments.
The fund was reportedly led by an associate of the criminal organization, who provided money laundering services. Among the fund’s investors was Halushchenko’s family. To conceal his involvement, two companies were established in the Marshall Islands, integrated into a trust registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The beneficiaries were Halushchenko’s ex-wife and four children.
Authorities claim that during Halushchenko’s tenure, the criminal organization received over $112 million in cash from illegal activities in the energy sector. These funds were allegedly laundered through various financial instruments, including cryptocurrency and investments in the fund.
According to SAP, the investigation revealed that the fund managed by Halushchenko’s family received over $7.4 million, in addition to more than 1.3 million Swiss francs and 2.4 million euros, which were withdrawn in cash and transferred directly to the family in Switzerland. Some of these funds were reportedly used for the education of Halushchenko’s children in prestigious Swiss institutions.
In December, investigative reports indicated that Halushchenko’s son has been attending one of Europe’s most expensive private colleges, College Alpin Beau Soleil in Switzerland, with tuition and living expenses reaching up to $200,000 per year. While Halushchenko lists his children in his declarations, he has not disclosed the costs associated with his son’s education. Over four years, the total tuition could amount to approximately $700,000, significantly exceeding the family’s officially declared income.
Halushchenko commented on the funding for his children’s education, asserting that “everything was done legally.”
On November 10, 2025, NABU announced the exposure of a criminal organization that systematically obtained illegal benefits from contractors of Energoatom, amounting to 10% to 15% of contract values. NABU asserts that the funds were laundered through a back office in central Kyiv, which handled around $100 million. The premises reportedly belonged to the family of a former member of parliament, now a senator in Russia, Andriy Derkach, who is implicated in another criminal case.
NABU detective Oleksandr Abakumov revealed that the investigation has documented the involvement of four Cabinet ministers in various situations, indicating that these officials span different periods and are not all current ministers.
The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine will hear appeals regarding the detention of former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, who faces serious corruption charges. His defense argues for a more lenient bail arrangement, while prosecutors seek a significantly higher bail amount.