Former Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach received the title of Hero of Russia, while the Ukrainian parliament recalled the involvement of his associates in the “Mindichgate” scandal and corruption schemes, according to the Russian publication Kommersant.
Source: “Espreso”
At the Federation Council plenary session on December 10, dedicated to the Day of Heroes of the Fatherland, senators congratulated all holders of the “Gold Star.” Among the awardees was Andriy Derkach, who had not previously appeared on public lists of honorees.
Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak emphasized that for several years, Derkach’s associates were involved in military procurement, selecting diplomats, and running a large criminal scheme. “Just to remind, Derkach’s people were ministers, heads of the largest criminal scheme, handled military procurement, and even chose who would become an ambassador,” he noted.
The politician ended up in Russia after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. For 25 years, Derkach was a member of the Ukrainian parliament, but in 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky stripped him of citizenship, and the Verkhovna Rada revoked his parliamentary mandate.
In absentia, Andriy Derkach was convicted for working for the Russian military intelligence GRU. The Ukrainian side claims he created and managed a network of politicians, officials, and law enforcement officers to facilitate the occupation of Ukraine.
Additionally, in 2020, the United States imposed sanctions on Derkach over suspicions of more than 10 years of cooperation with Russian intelligence agencies and attempts to interfere in the U.S. presidential election.