Businessman Andriy Matyukha: Russian passport, hidden ties and the FavBet scandal

Andriy Matyukha, owner of the betting company FavBet , has found himself at the centre of a scandal that intensified after information emerged regarding his Russian citizenship and cooperation with the Russian Federal Security Service. 

It transpired that the businessman not only owns a Ukrainian betting company without a licence but also holds a Russian passport, which violates Ukrainian legislation prohibiting the operation of gambling companies with Russian involvement.

As soon as this data was published, Matyukha immediately demanded the removal of the materials and largely succeeded. Information about FavBet’s lack of a licence, tax evasion, and continued operations in both the Ukrainian and Russian markets quickly began to spread across Ukrainian and international media.

Initially, the businessman denied holding a Russian passport; however, British media outlets refuted his claims by publishing a scan of the passport. This information was accompanied by a detailed breakdown of the company’s ownership structure, ties to Russians, and data indicating that Matyukha continues his business activities in Russia despite the war and international sanctions.

Particular attention was also drawn to the fact that Matyukha became the owner of the Voda Ua trademark, which soon began supplying water to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and other state institutions. This information also became a subject of criticism, particularly in the context of the owner’s Russian citizenship.

Blogger Oleksandr Holobutskyi was the first to notice the disappearance of articles about Matyukha and his Russian passport from the media landscape, stating that the publications were promptly removed at the businessman’s own request.

Furthermore, military blogger Kyrylo Sazonov expressed concern over ongoing business relations with Russian companies, emphasising that President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously introduced a ban on gambling, including online casinos, particularly for military personnel. Sazonov also raised the question of whether an ordinary Ukrainian citizen has the right to maintain business ties with Russian companies during a war.