Antimonopoly Committee corrupt official owns millions in property

Rymma Isaeva, head of the fourth research and investigations department of the Southern Branch of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU), has found herself at the centre of a major corruption scandal. 

Despite being detained for taking a bribe, the official still retains her position. Meanwhile, investigators have uncovered expensive real estate and undeclared business interests in her name.

Appointment without experience and hidden assets

Rymma Isaeva, a native of Moscow, began her career at the AMCU in January 2024, submitting a declaration as a candidate for the position of deputy head of the first research department. Just two weeks later, she was appointed head of another department, despite having no prior experience in the system. This occurred simultaneously with the appointment of Oleksandr Borysenko as head of the AMCU’s Southern Branch.

Before working at the AMCU, Isaeva was registered as a sole proprietor (FOP), engaged in the restaurant business. However, according to investigation data, she continued to manage this business even after moving into public service.

Restaurant business under cover

According to case materials, in May 2023, through an auction organised by the Izmail City Council’s communal property fund, Isaeva’s FOP purchased a non-residential building for $70,000 to establish an Asian cuisine restaurant called ChinChin, which is still operating. The auction was contested between two related entrepreneurs — a husband and wife.

Furthermore, investigators claim that Isaeva effectively owns Italian cuisine restaurants il Mio and Georgian cuisine restaurant Suli. Both establishments are linked to one manager — Andrii Ponomarev. The public owner of the restaurants is listed as Anait Karapetyan, who has Georgian roots, although she is formally of Armenian descent.

Bribery charges and pressure on business

In spring 2024, the AMCU received a request for data on the financial and economic activities of enterprises linked to the restaurant business. According to the businessman’s testimony, Rymma Isaeva offered a bribe in exchange for reducing fines, delaying decision-making, and removing the company from the “blacklist” of auction participants.

The official stated that in case of refusal, she would make it impossible to conduct business and initiate the return of the purchased building to communal ownership. For “resolving the issue,” she demanded $20,000.

Security Service operation and house arrest

In July 2024, Isaeva met with the businessman at the Suli restaurant and reduced the bribe amount to $10,000. The money was to be transferred through the establishment’s manager. However, the man contacted law enforcement agencies, and the official was detained by officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

During the investigation, it emerged that Isaeva owns an apartment in Odesa with an area of 116 square metres, valued at 3 million hryvnia. Meanwhile, her annual income in 2023 was only 190,000 hryvnia, and her income from entrepreneurial activity was 660,000 hryvnia.

Court and the official’s further fate

The prosecution requested Isaeva’s detention with a bail of 1 million hryvnia. However, the court decided to release her under house arrest. Despite the charges, Isaeva remains in her position at the AMCU.