The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) released Serhiy Kutsiy — the driver of Serhiy Kropyva, a prosecutor at the Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG) — who is one of the defendants in the high-profile 'Carthage' case. After posting bail of 3 million hryvnias, Kutsiy left the pre-trial detention center, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing HACC. Thus, another participant in the case linked to the 'protection' (patronage) of a network of fraudulent call centers has been freed under procedural restrictions.
3 Million UAH Bail: Kutsiy Leaves the Detention Center
According to HACC, after the bail of 3 million hryvnias was posted, Serhiy Kutsiy was released from the pre-trial detention center. The court also obliged him to comply with a set of procedural restrictions intended to ensure his appearance and prevent any potential pressure on witnesses or co-participants. The specific list of restrictions is not disclosed in the court's public materials, but it is precisely these restrictions that determine the defendant's status until the investigation is completed.
What the Prosecutor's Driver Is Charged With
Serhiy Kutsiy is charged with participation in a criminal organization, as well as the legalization of property obtained by criminal means. According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), from October 2025 to September 2026, he allegedly took part in the activities of a group that ensured the operation and 'protection' of a network of fraudulent call centers. Thus, the period of his alleged involvement in the scheme, according to the case materials, covers almost a year and ends right at the time of the events under consideration.
Context of the 'Carthage' Case: From Call Centers to the Prosecutor General
Earlier, NABU and SAP disclosed details of the investigation known as 'Carthage.' As the investigation revealed, a senior official of the Office of the Prosecutor General allegedly 'protected' fraudulent call centers. The main defendant in the case is Serhiy Kropyva, Deputy Head of the Department of International Legal Cooperation of the OPG. Prosecutor General Ruslan Khrachenko also appeared in the disclosed recordings: in particular, according to the investigation, Kropyva allegedly arranged a flight for his cohabitee to Spain shortly before the Prosecutor General's own planned business trip there.
Authorities' Reaction: Kropyva's Arrest and Khrachenko's Resignation
On September 6, the High Anti-Corruption Court placed Kropyva in custody with the possibility of posting bail of 120 million hryvnias. Later, on September 14, Khrachenko unexpectedly signed a suspicion against NABU Director Semen Kryvonos and, according to reports, left the country. On the same day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Khrachenko had only one way out — dismissal from his position — and called on the Verkhovna Rada not to delay its decision. The next day, parliament supported the dismissal of Khrachenko from the post of Prosecutor General. Kutsiy's release on 3 million hryvnias bail became another stage in the development of the 'Carthage' case, which continues to shape the agenda around Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies.
