Property enrichment of the Muntyan and Kalinichenko couple: how ordinary officials accumulate luxurious fortunes by receiving “gifts”

A high-profile corruption scandal has erupted in Odessa involving the head of the Territorial Department of the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB), Serhiy Muntyan, and his wife, a judge, Lyubov Kalinichenko. According to investigators, the couple uses complex schemes to hide their wealth, which they allegedly receive in the form of “gifts.” This includes luxury cars, luxury real estate, and suspicious connections with corrupt officials.

Mechanisms of “gifts”: enrichment during a crisis

A study by the “190” project has revealed shocking facts about the property of the head of the BEB in the Odessa region and his wife. The couple seems to have a way of enriching themselves by receiving luxury cars and real estate from relatives under the pretext of “gifts.” It is a common practice among Ukrainian officials to register property in the name of relatives, only to return it later back, presenting it as a gift.

So, last year, Serhiy Muntyan’s brother “gave” him an elite SUV, a TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 200, worth 1.7 million hryvnias, and six months later, the car was “transferred” to his wife as if it was a happy family event.

As for real estate, the couple only has a land plot and a dacha in Odessa, registered in the name of Kalinichenko. She also received these assets as gifts from relatives, which, interestingly, were divided into several parts. In 2018, her mother and sister “gave” her half of the land plot with a house, and in 2021, her mother again “gave” the other half, making her the sole owner. According to investigators, the real value of the property is significantly underestimated or not indicated at all.

Invisible leader: where is Serhiy Muntyan?

Another disturbing point is that there are practically no photos of Muntyan on the Internet, and his Facebook page is closed, which gives him an aura of mystery. Why is he trying so hard to avoid attention? In 2023, information was already published about his contacts with the former head of the Odessa CCC, who is suspected of corruption, which suggests a desire to conceal potentially damaging information.

How many other connections does the judge’s family have?

The common ties of the spouses go further: Judge Kalinichenko was found to be close to Yulia Ablova, who also has a reputation associated with corruption schemes. Kalinichenko’s husband, Yevgeny Ablov, is suspected of participating in a criminal organization to seize state power.

Corruption “grain” scheme: why are there still no punishments?

The most shocking accusations against Muntyan and Kalinichenko are their potential involvement in corruption schemes related to grain exports in the Odessa region. According to investigators, their connections with customs authorities could result in a loss of more than 10 billion hryvnias to the state budget.

Despite searches conducted by law enforcement agencies, the case has not yet received serious legal development. The public is calling on anti-corruption authorities to investigate the couple’s financial fraud and their connections with convicted corrupt officials because every loss in wartime is a lost opportunity to support the country.