Kathmandu— Irina Mudraya, formerly a deputy head in President Vladimir Zelensky’s office, was granted bail by Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday while facing accusations of money laundering. The court set her bail at less than $450,000, significantly lower than the amount requested by prosecutors, who had sought over $3.3 million. Mudraya is suspected of channeling funds to pay bail for former Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko, implicated in a separate alleged kickback scheme, and must remain in Kyiv while complying with court summons if she posts bail, which she intends to do with the help of unnamed sponsors.

Allegations of Illicit Funds

Mudraya was fired by Zelensky last week after being formally accused of laundering approximately $3.3 million to cover Galushchenko’s bail. The allegations stem from a larger suspected $100 million kickback scheme linked to Timur Mindich, a longtime associate of President Zelensky. According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), Mudraya allegedly pressured officials at Sense Bank – formerly the Ukrainian branch of Russia's Alfa Bank before its 2023 nationalization – to overlook suspicious financial transfers.

Leaked Recordings and Key Suspects

Surveillance recordings leaked to Ukrainian media suggest that Mindich’s group sought to install loyalists on Sense Bank’s supervisory board. Dubbed “Zelensky’s bagman” by local outlets, Mindich is suspected of acting as a frontman for high-level corruption. Both Mindich and another key associate, Aleksandr Zukerman, fled to Israel in November 2025 – reportedly just before arrest warrants were issued – and both hold Israeli citizenship.

Defense Arguments and Character Witnesses

During the bail hearings, Mudraya blamed a “provocateur,” believed to be former lawmaker and banker Maksim Mikitas, for exploiting her trust in order to create damaging recordings. She claimed that references to her alleged involvement in corruption were false but offered no immediate explanation as to why she hadn’t challenged those statements previously. Her defense team presented character witnesses, including Jonathan Markovitch, the chief rabbi of Kiev, who testified to Mudraya's trustworthiness and asserted she was not a flight risk.

Additional Accusations

Beyond facilitating Galushchenko’s bail, Mudraya is also accused of participating in criminal schemes to illegally seize real estate in Kyiv valued at around $16.75 million. These accusations involve allegedly altering government records and pressuring judges to deny rightful owners legal recourse. NABU and SAPO have reportedly compiled extensive records of conversations involving Mudraya and other suspects, purportedly recorded by Mikitas.

Mikitas' Potential Deal

Ukrainian media reports suggest that Mikitas may have agreed to cooperate with the anti-corruption agencies in exchange for leniency in his own ongoing criminal cases.

Mudraya intends to post bail and remains under investigation, while Mindich and Zukerman are currently believed to be residing in Israel. The case highlights Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption, even at the highest levels of government.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.