Ukraine's anti-corruption court orders Yelizarov and Mykytas detained in Forrest Gump case

Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court has ordered the detention of Valentyn Yelizarov and former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas in connection with the Forrest Gump case, reports Transparency International Ukraine and Suspilne. Yelizarov, the de facto head of Metrobud LLC, and Mykytas, accused of creating a criminal organization, are facing charges including corporate raiding, property seizure preparation, and funds laundering.

Mykytas was held in custody with a 30 million hryvnias bail, while Yelizarov was detained with a 20 million hryvnias bail. The scheme, known as Forrest Gump, allegedly involved laundering 150 million hryvnias to post bail for Herman Halushchenko, the former Energy Minister. Iryna Mudra, the former deputy head of the Presidential Office, is also under investigation for her alleged involvement in a criminal organization that laundered 150 million hryvnias, a hearing for which was initiated on August 21. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mudra from her position following the announcement.