Position: Former member of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council and agribusinessman.
Charges: Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud on an especially large scale), as well as Part 3 of Article 27 and Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (organizing the misappropriation of another person’s property through abuse of official position, committed by prior conspiracy on an especially large scale).
Case Overview:
The former member of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council and agribusinessman is suspected of large-scale fraud involving loans from a state-owned bank and the misappropriation of agricultural products. The damages resulting from his alleged criminal activities are estimated at more than UAH 151 million.
According to the investigation, the suspect initially obtained a loan of nearly UAH 80 million from a state-owned bank to finance agricultural operations. He used the funds to purchase 90 tractors and made loan repayments for some time, thereby establishing a reputation as a reliable borrower.
Later, using the purchased machinery as collateral, the agribusinessman obtained another loan of UAH 70 million, allegedly to replenish working capital. At the same time, according to investigators, he secured a third loan of an additional UAH 35 million through fictitious companies under his control.
All three loans amounted to approximately UAH 185 million. At the same time, the man had no intention whatsoever of repaying them
Law enforcement authorities established that the suspect sold the tractors pledged as collateral to third parties. So far, 46 of the 90 tractors have been located. Following the sale of the machinery, part of the outstanding debt to the bank was repaid; however, the financial institution's losses still amount to approximately UAH 140 million.
The suspect's name has not been officially disclosed. However, publicly released photographs and details of the case may point to Andrii Hordiichuk, founder of the All in foody group of organic agricultural companies and a member of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council until 2017.
In addition, investigators have linked the suspect to another alleged episode involving the misappropriation of agricultural products in the Kryvyi Rih area.
According to law enforcement authorities, through a fictitious company, he and his accomplices ordered more than 800 tonnes of rapeseed from farmers. To create the appearance of legitimate business dealings, they paid for part of the produce. However, after receiving the entire shipment, they transported the rapeseed for export and ceased making payments.
As a result of this scheme, the farming enterprise suffered losses amounting to UAH 11 million.
The suspect is currently believed to be hiding abroad. Law enforcement authorities are considering placing him on the international wanted list. Investigators are also identifying possible accomplices and searching for the machinery allegedly sold unlawfully.
The agribusinessman's actions have been classified under Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud on an especially large scale), as well as Part 3 of Article 27 and Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (organizing the misappropriation of another person's property through abuse of official position, committed by prior conspiracy on an especially large scale). The relevant provisions carry penalties of up to 12 years' imprisonment with confiscation of property.
It subsequently became known that a court ordered the arrest of Andrii Hordiichuk in absentia on suspicion of fraud and misappropriation of another person's property. It was also reported that Ukraine had placed him on the wanted list.
Individuals potentially involved in corruption schemes: Under investigation.
Assets:
In his declaration filed after leaving office, Andrii Andriiovych Hordiichuk listed several real estate properties.
He owned an apartment measuring 198.9 sq. m in Khmelnytskyi, valued at UAH 1,556,951, which he acquired on May 12, 2008. He also owned a 275 sq. m land plot in Khmelnytskyi, valued at UAH 63,432, acquired on June 17, 2008.
In addition, Hordiichuk owned a 50% share in an apartment measuring 50.5 sq. m in Novohrad-Volynskyi, Zhytomyr Region, valued at UAH 99,312.
His wife, Yelyzaveta Hordiichuk, owned a 50% share in a 33 sq. m apartment in Kyiv, with a declared value of UAH 5,833.
Gordiichuk and his family members also had the right to use an apartment measuring 282.8 sq. m in Kyiv. Andrii Hordiichuk, his children and stepdaughter had the right to use the apartment free of charge, while his wife, Yelyzaveta Hordiichuk, held rental rights.
According to the declaration, the apartment was owned by a foreign national, Christopher Brian Davidson Smith.
Under similar arrangements, the declarant and his wife also had the right to use two parking spaces in Kyiv.
Among the unfinished construction projects, Hordiichuk declared a residential house measuring 370 sq. m in Ivano-Frankivsk. According to the declaration, the property was built, either fully or partially, using materials or funds provided by the declarant or members of his family, and the land plot on which the construction is taking place is owned by Hordiichuk.
A substantial collection of valuable movable assets was declared in the name of his wife, Yelyzaveta Hordiichuk. In particular, the declaration lists fur garments by Manzari, PT Quality Furs, Valentino, Prada and Dior; handbags by Chanel, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Hermès Birkin and Lady Dior; watches by Rolex Daytona, Cartier, Franck Muller, Chopard, de Grisogono, Jacob & Co, Hublot and Audemars Piguet; as well as jewellery by Cartier, Tiffany & Co and Graff.
The declared value of most of these items is not specified. Separately, a Hermès tableware set valued at UAH 675,000 was declared.
Andrii Hordiichuk himself declared two watches: an IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Automatic valued at UAH 645,300 and an IWC Portugieser Yacht Club World Time valued at UAH 750,600.
Among the vehicles declared by Hordiichuk was a 1977 VAZ-2101, valued at UAH 50,000, which he acquired on June 9, 2015. He also had the right to use a 2018 Toyota Proace, owned by Tsefey-EKO LLC, from January 1, 2020.
His wife, Yelyzaveta Hordiichuk, owned four watercraft — floating house pontoons DAP-2221-K, DAP-2123-K, DAP-2122-K and DAP-2121-K, all manufactured in 2013. Each was declared at a value of UAH 650,600.
Hordiichuk declared UAH 300,000 in salary income from Tsefey Eko LLC, UAH 185,000 in dividends from Crystal Private Enterprise, UAH 29,502 in court-awarded debt owed by Ihor Dobrovolskyi, UAH 90,000 in court-awarded debt owed by Tsefey Eko LLC, UAH 1,344,000 received under an agreement dated May 4, 2018, concerning a Porsche vehicle, and UAH 225,000 received under an agreement dated April 26, 2018, concerning an Audi vehicle.
His wife, Yelyzaveta Hordiichuk, declared UAH 579,324 in income from business activities, UAH 23,220 in social benefits, UAH 149,000 in income from the sale of movable property, UAH 11,219 in other income from Mastercard Europe SA's representative office, as well as UAH 589 in interest from PrivatBank and UAH 87 in interest from Alfa-Bank.
Among his wife's principal monetary assets, Yelyzaveta Hordiichuk declared UAH 13,918,350, USD 174,000 and EUR 123,000 in cash. The declaration also lists funds she had loaned to third parties, including USD 23,000 and USD 34,000.
Andrii Hordiichuk declared UAH 2,706,000 in cash, as well as funds loaned to third parties, including USD 150,000 lent to Oleksandr Slipchuk and USD 150,000 lent to Serhii Yevlanchyk. In addition, he declared a monetary claim against Dobrobut AG PrJSC, based on a court ruling, amounting to UAH 109,469,512, along with various funds held in bank accounts and loans extended to legal entities.
Separately, in the monetary assets section of his declaration, Hordiichuk listed USD 650,000 and UAH 2,500,000 as "funds stolen on April 18, 2020", referencing criminal proceedings No. 12020100050002652.
Authorities Responsible for Taking Action: In Hordiichuk's case, law enforcement authorities responded in a timely manner.
Scandals:
Andrii Hordiichuk's name has appeared in public scandals on several occasions. Previously, media outlets reported on disputes surrounding his agricultural business, legal conflicts and allegations of corporate raiding.
A case concerning the non-payment of child support and debts owed to state institutions was also mentioned in publicly available court records.
On July 13, 2020, the Khmelnytskyi District Police Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Khmelnytskyi Region received a ruling issued by the Khmelnytskyi City District Court on July 6, 2020, ordering the entry into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations of information based on a complaint filed by Hordiichuk A.V. on May 19, 2020, concerning Hordiichuk A.A.'s evasion of child support payments
Furthermore, in 2019, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) reviewed the asset declarations of public officials. Agency employees identified individuals who had failed to declare assets exceeding 250 subsistence minimums. According to the NACP website, the so-called "blacklist" included members of parliament, prosecutors and a deputy mayor of Dnipro.
Andrii Gordiichuk, a member of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council, was also included on this list.
In his 2016 declaration, he failed to disclose his ownership of shares in a brewery and soft drinks manufacturing plant. The official also failed to declare income in the form of additional benefits and corporate payments.
Furthermore, the deputy omitted several assets belonging to his wife. These included a Porsche Cayenne purchased in 2016, income from the sale of another vehicle and rental income from leased property.
The total value of the undeclared assets amounted to UAH 4 million.
Sources:
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/624eb787-32fe-439c-b799-fc7787dc8c68