Court takes into custody 'Muza' from NABU case on 'protection' of call centers
The High Anti-Corruption Court has taken Yelyzaveta Ivakhnenko, who appears in the NABU and SAPO case "Carthage" under the pseudonym "Muza", into custody. As an alternative, the court set bail at UAH 20 million, although the prosecutor requested UAH 50 million.
The court decision was reported by the Anti-Corruption Action Center, whose representatives monitored the HACC hearing on September 7.
Ivakhnenko is suspected in a case of alleged "protection" of a network of fraudulent call centers and money laundering. One of the key figures in this proceeding is Serhiy Kropyva, deputy head of the Department of International Cooperation of the Prosecutor General's Office.
SAPO announced legalization of UAH 21.6 million
During the hearing, the SAPO prosecutor stated that Kropyva, with the participation of Ivakhnenko, organized the legalization and laundering of UAH 21.6 million. According to the investigation, part of these funds was used to purchase real estate in Kyiv and Odesa.
The prosecutor also reported that from April to June 2026, UAH 1.78 million was credited to the account of Ivakhnenko's mother. The investigation accuses Ivakhnenko herself of assisting Kropyva in purchasing a 2023 Mercedes-Benz car with funds that law enforcement considers criminal.
Among the materials presented in court were recordings of conversations between Ivakhnenko and Kropyva regarding an apartment in Odesa registered to Ivakhnenko's mother. The prosecution considers these conversations as one of the proofs of actual use of the property and concealment of its real owner.
Prosecutor spoke about plans to enter civil service
SAPO also presented in court a recording of a conversation in which Ivakhnenko discussed the possibility of working in the civil service. According to the prosecutor, it concerned, in particular, a potential position as Deputy Minister of Education of Ukraine or work in a foundation.
Justifying the need for detention, the prosecution pointed to Ivakhnenko's close ties with Kropyva, their level of spending, and property that, according to the prosecutor, did not match official income.
The prosecutor also stated in court that Ivakhnenko is acquainted with Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and was with Kropyva in Kravchenko's company during a trip to Madrid. These circumstances were cited by the prosecution as part of their argument about risks. They do not in themselves indicate the Prosecutor General's involvement in the criminal proceedings.
Ivakhnenko denied participation in criminal organization
Speaking in court, Ivakhnenko stated that she did not know about the existence of a criminal organization and her alleged participation in it.
She confirmed her acquaintance with Kropyva but refused to answer questions about the nature of their relationship. Commenting on the recordings of conversations presented by the prosecution, Ivakhnenko said that some of them were "taken out of context".
A day earlier, on September 6, the HACC took Serhiy Kropyva himself into custody until November 2. The court allowed him to be released on bail of UAH 120 million, while the SAPO prosecutor requested bail of UAH 200 million.
According to NABU and SAPO, the criminal organization was created in mid-2025. The investigation claims that its members systematically received unlawful benefits for non-interference in the work of fraudulent call centers, and the received funds were laundered through real estate, jewelry, other property, and accounts of close persons.
Currently, five suspects have been identified in the case. The preliminary legal qualification concerns the creation of and participation in a criminal organization and the legalization of property obtained by criminal means. The investigation is ongoing. The guilt of the suspects can only be established by a court conviction.
Sources: Anti-Corruption Action Center, NABU
