US Imposes Sanctions on Portnov and Tupytskyi

For involvement in corruption.

The US Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against former Party of Regions official Andriy Portnov. Later, US Secretary of State Blinken named Oleksandr Tupytskyi, the former head of Ukraine's Constitutional Court who was removed from office, on the sanctions list as well.

The financial agency's general list of the United States includes "corrupt individuals and networks from Central America, Europe and Africa."

Portnov and the Foundation

According to the statement published on the US Treasury website, Andriy Portnov distinguished himself by "developing broad ties within Ukraine's justice system and law enforcement agencies through bribery."

The American agency recalls that Portnov was known as a person who could "resolve" issues in the courts, undermining progress in judicial reform.

And by the middle of 2019, thanks to his activities together with another senior Ukrainian official, this led to "the formation of top justice institutions and influence over Ukraine's Constitutional Court." 

In addition, the US Treasury Department believes that Andriy Portnov was also involved in an attempt to influence the Prosecutor General's Office.

According to the statement, sanctions will be applied to Andriy Portnov himself and to his foundation under the so-called "Magnitsky Act" — Executive Order 13818 (Executive Order 13818). , belonging to persons involved in human rights violations and corruption).

This provides for a ban on entry into the US in the form of a denial of visa issuance and the blocking of all of the person's financial assets in US banks, including those where sanctioned persons hold 50 percent or more.

After Volodymyr Zelensky was elected president in 2019, former first deputy head of the administration of President Viktor Yanukovych, Andriy Portnov, returned to Ukraine.

Tupytskyi and the Constitutional Court

In addition, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, in the context of the fight against corruption and the Magnitsky Act, his agency also designated Oleksandr Tupytskyi, "former head of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, for significant corrupt actions, including receiving a cash bribe while serving in the judicial system."

Mr. Blinken said that sanctions will also be applied to Oleksandr Tupytskyi's wife, Olga.

The US Embassy in Kyiv also reported sanctions against the former head of the Constitutional Court.

The introduction of sanctions against Ukrainian officials was also announced by Chargé d'Affaires of the US in Ukraine Kristina Kvien.

"The Biden administration has included the fight against corruption among the topics of the summit that begins today, and Ukraine is also participating in this summit," a US representative said.

In March 2021, President Zelensky dismissed Tupytskyi as head of the Constitutional Court over allegations of corrupt actions, which he denied.

In July 2021, the Supreme Court upheld Oleksandr Tupytskyi's lawsuit against President Zelensky and ruled unlawful the decree by which he dismissed Tupytskyi from his posts as judge and head of the Constitutional Court.