Court seizes hotel complex belonging to customs officer Basarab

A well-known hotel complex in Lviv Oblast, owned by the wife of a customs officer, has been placed under arrest. 

This occurred after the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) opened criminal cases against Andriy Basarab, the chief inspector of the Lviv Customs, who is suspected of illegal enrichment and providing inaccurate information in his declarations.

During the investigation, it emerged that the customs officer allegedly entered false data into his 2023 declaration and acquired significant assets that did not correspond to his lawful income. According to law enforcement data, Basarab's close relatives and his authorised representative were involved in this process. Court rulings state that the customs officer's parents own a number of land plots and real estate objects, including shops, office premises, cafes, and several residential houses. A similar situation regarding property exists with his wife's relatives.

Particular attention from investigators was drawn to the Saltzbork hotel complex, located near Staryi Sambir. This facility belongs to Basarab's wife, Lyubov, and her authorised representative. The complex's territory includes cottages, a swimming pool, spa services, and numerous other entertainment options. Following the initiation of criminal proceedings, part of the land plots and real estate belonging to the complex was re-registered to the company "Eko-Sambir", owned by the customs officer's wife.

Arrest on the hotel complex was imposed in January 2025 by the Lytschakivskyi District Court of Lviv. The court prohibited the disposal of the property until the completion of the investigation. The owners of the hotel complex filed objections to the court's decision, asserting that the property was acquired lawfully and was reflected in the customs officer's declaration.

Overall, investigators are focusing on a possible scheme of tax evasion through the re-registration of property to relatives and close associates. In their view, this may be an attempt to avoid special confiscation of property in the event of a conviction for corruption offences. The case can still be challenged, and, according to lawyers, the specified property was acquired lawfully.

For their part, the management of the Lviv Customs attempted to dismiss Andriy Basarab from his position, but he secured reinstatement through the courts, claiming that he was pressured into writing a resignation letter.