The family of the controversial former prosecutor Verbytskyi purchased real estate in Turkey at a reduced price

The family of the controversial former prosecutor Verbytskyi purchased real estate in Turkey at a reduced price

Four million or perhaps seven? The Verbytskyi couple likely undervalued their Turkish property by almost half in the declaration.

Was he planning an escape to Turkey? The ex-wife of the former Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Dmytro Verbytskyi – Ms. Viktoriya – purchased an apartment in the resort town of Alanya during their marriage, declaring its value to be almost 4 million UAH. However, considering previous investigations into the prosecutor’s assets, the officially declared prices of the Verbytskyi properties raise doubts. Therefore, undercover journalists traveled to Turkey to uncover all the details.

What was the actual amount spent by the Verbytskyi couple on their elite Turkish property? And where did the former law enforcement officer with a government salary get the money for such purchases? More details and a tour of the prosecutor’s “nest” in resort Alanya can be seen in the new video material by Olha Levytska for StopCor.

However, Mr. Verbytskyi recently took the initiative himself. He held an entire press conference to clear his name, stating that an internal inquiry in the Prosecutor General’s Office and an international audit supposedly revealed no violations, and his Turkish apartment isn’t that expensive.

A little background: what is known about Dmytro’s family and fortune. Former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi has been the subject of journalist investigations more than once. Specifically, journalists uncovered the identity of his mysterious new partner, who brings considerable wealth. By the way, the connection with Kristyna Ilnytska was recently confirmed by Verbytskyi himself.

"We started dating Khrystyna a few months after I officially divorced my wife," he asserts.

Instead of proving the real earnings of Ilnytska for her expensive purchases, Dmytro skillfully redirects attention to his work during his interviews, although his professional merits are not questioned by anyone.

"Anyone working for the government must be prepared for scrutiny by the public. Naturally, when it comes to personal life, like any other person, it’s unpleasant for me to discuss publicly. But all these details appeared in the media not just by chance. It’s part of a campaign to discredit me, other prosecutors, and witnesses in criminal proceedings. That’s why I am willing to continue this public conversation and defend my reputation. Not only for myself but also to show that pressuring investigations is unacceptable. Such criminal actions will only lead to new criminal cases against those involved," assures the ex-prosecutor.

And what about the assets of the official himself?

Worthy of attention is the first investigation by journalists about a business center disguised as a residential house in Odesa, purchased by Verbytskyi’s ex-wife Viktorіya at a price much lower than the market value.

However, the value of this property wasn’t the only understatement; the same could be assumed about Dmytro’s rented residence in the elite town of "Konyk," which his nephew purchased on his behalf. The deal amounted to about three million UAH, yet similar houses are offered for up to $450,000 on specialized websites.

But there are even older cases of property dealings.

In 2015, Verbytskyi’s name was featured in the court case materials in Ivano-Frankivsk region. According to the records, Dmytro was provided with official housing, since from 2012 to 2013, he held the position of deputy head of department in the Ivano-Frankivsk regional prosecutor’s office.

"This is a common practice when non-local individuals work in a territory. The problem was that even after dismissal and transfer to another region, Verbytskyi didn’t return the temporary apartment to the prosecutor’s office. This was despite having apartments in Vugledar, Shostka, and Mariupol at the time—so he already had a real estate portfolio," comments Olha Levytska.

As a result, he was even taken to court, after which, as the law requires, he was deprived of the right to use this official housing.

The further fate of the plaintiff is also intriguing. As soon as Verbytskyi gained leverage in the General Prosecutor’s Office— the representative of the Ivano-Frankivsk prosecutor’s office trying to reclaim the apartment for the government was, coincidentally, dismissed. Now, this person is engaged in legal practice, and to protect their privacy, we do not disclose their name.

Our editorial team also noticed a journalist investigation about Verbytskyi in the publication "Ostanniy bastion." The author of the article reported the following (quote):

"The whole country learned that in spring 2022, the then-deputy head of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office, and now— Deputy Prosecutor General and the Treasurer of the Prosecutor General Kostin—Dmytro Verbytskyi shied away from the Russian invasion and considered fleeing to Turkey."

Journalists decided to verify the information and headed to the Mediterranean coast in Turkey.

Here, in sunny Alanya, according to our information, Viktoria—the ex-wife of the Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Dmytro Verbytskyi, became the owner of an apartment valued at almost 4 million UAH while still married to him.

The "Oxsopia" complex, where Viktoria presumably bought an apartment, is one of the best in the region. It is well-maintained, with a variety of plantations. The area boasts many facilities: underground parking, sports ground, table tennis, even table football, a gym, a pool, a relaxation zone, and enchanting sea views, only 50 meters away from the residential complex.

And all this is behind a closed fence, with surveillance cameras, security, and access only for the residents of the building.

Nearby are all the necessary amenities: supermarkets, restaurants. On one side is the sea, on the other mountains, and a national park with caves, a river, waterfalls, and entertainment for all tastes.

"Imagine: you wake up in a luxurious apartment, step onto the balcony, watch the sunrise over the waves, and take in the sea breeze. It’s a dream for almost everyone, especially Ukrainians who have been living in a full-scale war for the third year, seeking a safe haven on this earth. Only, not every Ukrainian can afford life abroad," notes the journalist.

After sneaking into the area “undercover,” journalists managed to capture the complex’s interior views.

Then, the media personnel headed to the sales office, naturally with a made-up “legend,” pretending they plan to buy an apartment here: all to find out real estate prices. To remain incognito, the journalists spoke to the developer’s representative in Russian, as they do not understand English or Ukrainian.

As journalists found out, the complex’s demographic is predominantly from the aggressor country. And the cost of apartments like the one Verbytska resides in starts at 170,000 euros.

"We recall the figure of 3 million 890 thousand UAH and compare it to 170 thousand euros: that is 7 million 300 thousand UAH at today’s exchange rate. Of course, the rate has changed, and there might have been a discount, so we asked: how much did the apartments cost at the time of commissioning and whether the developer makes any price concessions," comments Olha Levytska.

However, the developer’s representative insists: apartments are sold precisely according to the price list. No discounts.

During this conversation, journalists managed to arrange a viewing of a 1+1 apartment like the one owned by Verbytskyi’s ex-wife. During the second visit, they decided to ask about Ukrainians residing here. The developer’s representative assured them that they know every resident personally. Moreover, our interlocutor only mentioned one apartment inhabited by people from Odesa.

"Those who are Viktoria and Oleksandr from Odesa came when the war started, bought and settled. They live alone," she says.

So Viktoriya indeed bought an apartment after the war began but... for the price of two such residences. According to our source, we’re talking about a duplex for 250,000 euros.

"So many coincidences: Viktoriya from Odesa (the only Odesa resident known to our interlocutor) bought an apartment after the war began, and even a 1+1—which is 65 squares, as listed in her declaration. So now let’s see what such a property might look like for 250 thousand," highlights the investigator.

This is just an example of furnished apartments. The layout is identical in all these square meters, so Verbytskyi’s residence likely looks similar. Combined kitchen with living room, sofas, and a spacious bedroom. But the best thing here is, of course, the view from the window.

So where is the money from?

As it turned out, a few months before the purchase of the aforementioned property, Dmytro’s mother, Valentyna Verbytska, loaned Viktoria 133,000 dollars, which was enough to buy the apartment at the declared price at the time. Where the additional 117,000 came from is not officially known. Note that Valentyna is currently 73 years old. It’s intriguing to consider where a pensioner found almost 4 million UAH. Moreover, the house at her registered address doesn’t quite resemble the home of a millionaire.

Thus, this entire saga is another reason for the asset status verification of Dmytro Verbytskyi by the control bodies. After all, 130,000 dollars and 250,000 are completely different sums, and their origin also deserves scrutiny.

Source: StopCor