The high-profile issue of possible illegal enrichment by Ukraine’s Deputy Prosecutor General, Ihor Mustetsa, remains at the forefront of public and expert discourse in the anti-corruption sphere
Despite intense public interest and the facts presented by investigative journalists, official authorities continue to refrain from transparency and providing clear answers. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) responded to a request from "Ukrainska Pravda" by refusing to disclose whether a pre-trial investigation has been initiated regarding potential corruption activities by the Deputy Prosecutor General. NABU justified their position by citing provisions of the criminal procedural legislation, noting that information about the progress of an investigation is classified as investigative secrecy and can only be disclosed with written permission from the investigator or prosecutor. This reaction raises concerns about transparency and the level of openness in criminal cases involving high-ranking officials, especially those suspected of abuse and corruption schemes. At the same time, it heightens fears of potential abuse of authority and concealment of possible unlawful activities by law enforcement officials. The background of this situation began back in June 2025, when the civil movement "Hromadske" published materials containing leaks from the investigation into the assets of Deputy Prosecutor Ihor Mustetsa’s family. In their analysis, they highlighted that despite a career spanning over twenty years in the prosecutor's office, Mustetsa has yet to own any real estate or expensive vehicles. However, his personal life and the disparity between his wealth and official income levels raised serious questions. According to the presented facts, Mustetsa resides in a rented apartment within an elite residential complex in central Kyiv, while his parents acquired new real estate and luxury vehicles at the end of 2022. His mother purchased an apartment in Chernivtsi measuring over 200 square meters in the new "Parus" business center, which is part of the city’s upscale residential complexes. His father, in 2023, became the owner of a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400D, and in 2024, he bought a small house in Chernivtsi measuring 84 square meters. Notably, information also emerged about a gift received by his sister—retiree David Weinstein reportedly gifted her an apartment in the "French Quarter-2" residential complex, valued at approximately 8 million hryvnias. This fact further intensified concerns over an opaque scheme of family enrichment connected to a high-ranking official. Despite these suspicions, NABU’s official response only reinforces the illusion of inaccessibility to internal investigative processes at the highest levels of power. Such a situation causes particular concern among the public and experts, who are calling for greater transparency and independent audits to prevent abuse, especially when trust in state institutions and top officials is at stake. The circumstances remain unclear: whether investigative authorities have initiated criminal procedural actions regarding the alleged illegal enrichment of the Deputy Prosecutor General or not, remains a secret. Meanwhile, the heightened societal attention and growing public pressure only emphasize the need for a transparent and fair investigation, which could clarify the situation and possibly lead to accountability for any misconduct or unlawful activity.