Estonian court begins trial of "Slava Ukraini" charity founder

On September 14, Estonia's Harju County Court opened proceedings against Johanna-Maria Lehtme, former head of the Slava Ukraini charity, who prosecutors accuse of breach of trust and misappropriating donated funds. The organization was founded after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and raised more than six million euros to support the country. Lehtme denies the charges.

Partnership with a commercial firm at the core of the case

Until August 2022, the charity operated in Ukraine through the All For Victory foundation. Later its partner became the commercial company IC Construction. Prosecutors allege IC Construction added commercial markups to invoices, earning the Ukrainian firm roughly 400,000 euros — in some cases equal to the full cost of individual projects. Prosecutor Sigrid Nurm argued that as an NGO handling donated money, Slava Ukraini's statutes never permitted generating profit for a commercial partner.

The defense rejects the claim, saying Slava Ukraini had fully accepted IC Construction's pricing and that the cost of the purchased services was known to everyone involved.

Second charge involves about 44,000 euros

A separate episode concerns roughly 44,000 euros that, according to prosecutors, was transferred under a contract for one service but actually went toward salaries and other expenses of Ukrainian organizations. The defense maintains the relevant work — including logistics and volunteer coordination — was genuinely carried out.

Slava Ukraini itself, now led by Ilmar Raag, filed civil lawsuits in Ukraine in March worth about 750,000 euros over property and reputational damage. Raag said it remains unclear whether Lehtme personally profited from the arrangement.

The defense argues Lehtme had no way to verify IC Construction's internal documentation since she was not a board member there. However, IC Construction employee Alexander Chernov, whose account triggered the investigation, has said he repeatedly warned Lehtme about suspected manipulation of humanitarian aid funds. Raag noted it seems suspicious that after handing documents to Estonian authorities, Chernov was found with grenades in his car and is now serving a prison sentence.

The hearings that opened September 14 mark only the start of the trial. The court still must examine evidence and hear both sides before closing arguments and a verdict. If convicted, Lehtme faces a fine or a suspended sentence. Since the criminal case was opened in 2023, Lehtme has lived in Ukraine, where she is raising two children; the court has exceptionally allowed her to take part in proceedings via video link.