Law enforcement authorities in the Principality of Monaco have detained a 42-year-old Ukrainian citizen suspected of involvement in the death of 29-year-old Antoine de Massy, a member of the princely family. According to investigators, the body of the deceased was found on a median strip in the seaside district of Larvotto. As reported by French and Ukrainian media citing the AFP agency, the man has been officially charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to assist a person in danger. According to TSN, the suspect was brought to court and placed in pre-trial detention on October 28.
Circumstances of the Death
According to the autopsy results, the cause of Antoine de Massy's death was a fall from a height of about 13 meters from the Boulevard du Larvotto onto the median strip near the sea. Sources report that the deceased was seen leaving a nightclub the previous evening: he was stumbling and holding onto the arm of a man accompanying him. Witnesses reportedly saw him falling from the overpass. This specific episode became key for the investigation, which used CCTV footage to identify the man who had been in contact with de Massy prior to his death.
Charges and Suspect's Position
The suspect is a 42-year-old Ukrainian citizen who has lived in the principality for about thirty years. He has been charged with "involuntary manslaughter" and "failure to assist a person in danger." The Prosecutor General of Monaco stated that during police interrogation, the man completely denied his involvement in the crime, and during the investigative phase, he refused to answer questions from the investigating judge. According to authorities, the judicial investigation must establish the exact sequence of events that led to the fall and death of the member of the princely family.
Family Ties of the Deceased
Antoine de Massy was the grandson of Princess Antoinette, the elder sister of Prince Rainier III, the father of the reigning Prince of Monaco, Albert II. Thus, the deceased was a first cousin of the principality's ruler. The death of a member of the Grimaldi dynasty in such sensational circumstances has attracted international media attention and increased interest in the progress of the investigation, which is being conducted under the control of the Monégasque judiciary.
Context: Not the First High-Profile Incident Involving Ukrainians
As publications note, this is not the first high-profile incident involving Ukrainian citizens in Monaco. Previously, the principality investigated the murder case of Anastasia Berezovska, as well as the assassination attempt on businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, in which a military intelligence (HUR) serviceman and former SBU employee were suspected of involvement. At that time, SBU specialists managed to recover key evidence — CCTV footage from the scene of the attempt that the organizers tried to destroy. According to the French press, following the attempt on Yermolaiev, wealthy Ukrainians living in Monaco hired enhanced security. This new case once again raises questions about the safety and legal status of the Ukrainian diaspora in the principality.
