Former Ukrainian US Envoy Suspected of Hiding Assets

Ukrainian authorities announced on Thursday that former deputy prime minister and, until recently, ambassador to the US Olha Stefanishyna is facing allegations of illicit enrichment and asset concealment.

According to the prosecutor's office, while in office she failed to declare two apartments and other assets worth approximately $310,000, which investigators say she could not have acquired solely from her official income.

Ukrainian law does not allow the name of a suspect to be disclosed, but authorities referred to the position she held at the time of the alleged offenses. On Tuesday, Stefanishyna denied any wrongdoing on Facebook, stating that she had never had anything to hide.

President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed her from her post as ambassador earlier this week after she submitted her resignation.

The case comes amid sweeping personnel changes in the country's leadership, including the replacement of the prime minister and the defense minister.

(Reuters, mja)