Position: Former State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Area of Corrupt Activity: Management of budget funds.
Region of Corrupt Activity: Nationwide.
Legal Qualification: The actions are classified under Part 4 of Article 190, Part 5 of Article 191, and Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: At liberty; released from pre-trial detention.
Case Details: In late July 2026, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) exposed an organized criminal group led by the former State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Its members misappropriated funds from foreign citizens and donors intended to support Ukraine at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion and laundered the money through conversion centers.
According to the investigation, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs persuaded international donors and subordinate employees of Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad to direct financial assistance to the bank account of a non-governmental organization under his control. According to the findings of an expert examination, the funds received by this NGO legally had the status of earmarked budget funds from the special fund of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The funds were subsequently transferred to accounts belonging to sole proprietors and legal entities under the group’s control. These entities then transferred the money to conversion centers, where it was converted into cash. The scheme’s participants used the laundered funds for their own enrichment.
To create the appearance of legitimate activity by the NGO, the scheme’s participants produced forged letters and signed grant agreements containing false information. The investigation has established that more than UAH 37 million (approximately USD 1.28 million at the time the crime was committed) was laundered.
The suspects include:
- Oleksandr Bankov, former State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2020–2024), and the scheme’s organizer;
- Ramiz Ramazanov, former Head of the Secretariat of the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a serving diplomatic officer at the time;
- Vladyslav Reznikov, adviser to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the NGO under the group’s control;
- Olena Kornytska, the NGO’s accountant.
Materials from the State Audit Service of Ukraine were used in exposing the crime.
The court remanded Bankov in custody for 60 days, setting bail at UAH 10 million as an alternative. Subsequently, the UAH 10 million bail set by the High Anti-Corruption Court was paid on Bankov’s behalf, and he was released from pre-trial detention.
In addition, the High Anti-Corruption Court imposed a preventive measure of bail in the amount of UAH 8 million on Ramiz Ramazanov, an adviser to Ukraine’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva.
The investigating judge also remanded Vladyslav Reznikov, head of the NGO “Center for the Promotion of International Cooperation,” in custody, setting bail at UAH 10 million.
At the same time, the High Anti-Corruption Court refused to remand Olena Kornytska, the accountant of the NGO “Center for the Promotion of International Cooperation,” in custody. Instead, it set bail at UAH 9,000,000 and imposed certain obligations on her.
Individuals Potentially Involved in Corruption Schemes: Ramiz Ramazanov — former Head of the Secretariat of the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (a serving diplomatic officer at the time the suspicion was announced); Vladyslav Reznikov — head and founder of the NGO “Center for the Promotion of International Cooperation.” According to law enforcement, Bankov effectively controlled this organization himself and used its accounts to transfer donor funds out of the intended channels; the accountant of the aforementioned NGO.
Assets: In his 2024 asset declaration, Bankov stated that he owned an apartment in Kyiv. Meanwhile, his wife, Anna, declared two additional apartments — one in Kyiv and another in Kyiv Region.
Bankov did not declare ownership of a vehicle. However, his wife declared a Volkswagen Tiguan passenger car valued at UAH 657,705, which was purchased after Russia’s full-scale invasion had begun.
The former official’s income for that year amounted to UAH 1,789,614.
He declared USD 25,000 in cash and UAH 27,310 in his bank account.
Authorities Responsible for Responding: Law enforcement agencies responded to the criminal scheme in a timely manner by serving notices of suspicion on all its participants.
Scandals: Before the corruption scheme came to light, he had not been identified as a participant in any other scandals.
Sources:
https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/kolishnogo-topposadovtsya-mzs-zapidozrili-1785162457.html
https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/kolishnogo-topposadovtsya-mzs-zaareshtuvali-1785738615.html
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/3127d6c0-74aa-4c77-9023-4111600eb4cf