Former Acting Culture Minister Denies Charges in Illegal Border Crossing Scheme Involving Fake Musician Tours

Rostyslav Karandieiev, who served as Ukraine's acting Minister of Culture, has rejected as groundless the suspicion leveled against him regarding facilitation of illegal border crossing. On June 19, he was notified of the suspicion and stated he respects law enforcement work and will fully cooperate to clarify all circumstances, though he remains convinced the charges are unfounded and will be disproven in court.

According to the National Police, the criminal scheme was uncovered in April. It involved submitting lists of individuals to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, claiming they were members of musical groups planning charity performances abroad. To organize these "tours," individual entrepreneurs were registered. A spot in such a "group" cost up to $13,000. Police data indicate 28 men used this scheme, with 16 more planning to do so.

Investigators established that the former official signed letters of support from the ministry for these individuals. Four other accomplices recruited "clients" and discussed tour conditions. Payments were processed through cryptocurrency wallets and bank accounts. On June 19, suspicions were announced against five group members, including Karandieiev, under Article 332 of the Criminal Code (illegal border crossing of persons committed by an organized group).

Earlier, in April, Karandieiev commented that as head of the ministry he signed requests to the State Border Guard Service for artists' travel, but fraudulent requests could not be distinguished without expert examination. He served as acting culture minister from July 2023 to September 2024, the only person to hold that position during the full-scale war.