Courts, corporate raiding, and 150 million hryvnias in bail: a new charge in the “Forest Gump” case
29 August 00:57
NABU and the SAPO have notified an influential businessman—a former member of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council—that he is under investigation. According to investigators, he helped secure favorable rulings from commercial courts, was involved in the seizure of companies with assets worth 248 million hryvnias, and facilitated the laundering of money for bail in the “Midas” case. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing NABU.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office have expanded the list of suspects in the investigation into the activities of an organization accused of raider takeovers, property fraud, and money laundering.
According to an official statement from NABU, a new suspect has been identified: an influential businessman and former deputy of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council of the 7th convocation.
Anti-corruption authorities have not officially disclosed his name. At the same time, “Ukrainska Pravda” sources within law enforcement agencies claim that the individual in question is businessman Vasyl Astion, who was previously linked to recordings made public as part of Operation “Forest Gump.”
What role does the investigation assign to the suspect?
According to the NABU and the SAPO, the organization’s leaders—a current and a former member of parliament—enlisted the businessman because of his informal connections and potential influence within the judicial system.
The investigation alleges that the suspect facilitated decisions by commercial courts in favor of companies or individuals associated with the organization.
With his involvement, law enforcement officials claim, a hostile takeover of two companies took place. The total value of their assets amounted to 248 million hryvnias.
How the new allegation is linked to the “Midas” case
A separate episode concerns the laundering of funds to post bail for a member of another alleged criminal organization, known as the “Midas” case.
The materials from the first report on the NABU operation noted that in June 2026, an attempt was made to launder 150 million hryvnias in cash through accounts of controlled companies. This money was subsequently to be used to pay bail.
In the new report, NABU asserts that a businessman facilitated this operation. At the same time, the Bureau does not officially name the person for whom the bail was intended.
Media outlets link this incident to the payment of 150 million hryvnias on behalf of former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
“Forrest Gump” or “Themis”
Media reports link the new suspicion to two operation names at once.
“Forest Gump” refers to the investigation into the alleged laundering of 150 million hryvnia for bail in the “Midas” case. The media refer to Operation “Themis” as a related episode involving the seizure of companies and real estate through interference with state registries, forged documents, and court rulings.
A new suspect is implicated in both parts of the investigation: NABU accuses him of facilitating raider takeovers through the courts and participating in the laundering of money for bail.
What is known about the scope of the case
NABU and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced the dismantling of the organization on August 19, 2026. According to the investigation, its activities were coordinated by a current and a former member of parliament, and officials from the Office of the President, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the judicial system, and other individuals may have been involved in certain episodes.
Members of the organization are accused of using several mechanisms:
- unauthorized interference in the Ministry of Justice’s information systems;
- entering false data into state registries;
- forgery of property ownership documents;
- creating fictitious corporate debt;
- obtaining the necessary court rulings;
- registering assets in the names of controlled individuals;
- laundering funds through a series of companies.
As part of a broader investigation, law enforcement officials also reported an attempt to seize real estate in Kyiv valued at over 207 million hryvnias. The goal of one of the incidents was allegedly to gain control over properties in the center of the capital valued at more than 500 million hryvnias.
What charges are being brought against the former lawmaker?
The suspect’s actions were classified under several provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- Part 2 of Article 255—participation in a criminal organization;
- Part 4 of Article 28 and Parts 2 and 3 of Article 206-2—unlawful appropriation of a company’s property committed by an organized group;
- Part 4 of Article 28 and Part 3 of Article 209—laundering of property obtained by criminal means.
The pretrial investigation is ongoing. NABU has not yet reported on the imposition of a preventive measure on the new suspect.
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by law and convicted by a court of law.
