Nazarii Gusakov has returned to Ukraine from Italy
Nazarii Gusakov, a resident of Lviv whom investigators believe to be the organizer of a large-scale fraud scheme disguised as a fundraiser for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), has returned to Ukraine from Italy.
Upon his arrival, the man was officially notified of a change in the charges against him, and law enforcement officials have already filed a motion with the court requesting that he be placed under pretrial detention.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced the suspect’s return, noting that the suspect had been abroad allegedly for medical treatment.
Although the legal classification of the case remains preliminary, the scale of the crime has significantly increased during the investigation: the number of officially recognized victims has risen from 34 to 96 people.
“The suspect in the fraudulent fundraising scheme, allegedly for SMA treatment, has returned to Ukraine after a stay in Italy, where he was undergoing treatment,” the Prosecutor General emphasized.
According to new data from the investigation, the amount of damages caused to trusting citizens has risen from 1.3 million UAH to 2 million UAH, which people transferred to save a life.
According to law enforcement, Gusakov actively promoted the fundraiser on social media and Telegram channels, emphasizing the critical need for the expensive medication.
However, the Lviv City Council officially confirmed that since June 2024, the man had been receiving this medication completely free of charge at the expense of the city budget.
To attract donations via PayPal and BuyMeACoffee, the suspect manipulatively exploited the support of well-known media figures and popular influencers.
According to the investigation, a significant portion of the charitable donations collected was spent on gambling, investments in cryptocurrency, and satisfying the fundraiser organizer’s personal needs.
During searches of the Lviv resident’s residence, law enforcement officers seized mobile phones and flash drives.
Currently, technical experts are examining digital evidence that may contain additional information about the movement of funds and the coordination of fraudulent activities online.
The prosecutor’s office has already filed a motion with the court to impose a preventive measure on Gusakov in the form of round-the-clock house arrest.
According to the investigation’s proposal, the suspect will be allowed to leave his home only in two cases: to receive emergency medical care or during an air raid alert to seek shelter in the nearest safe location.
As a reminder, the controversial Nazarii Gusakov was found in Milan.
Nazariy Gusakov also demanded donations from wounded soldiers and “traded on his connections.”
