Compliance absurd in London: how Alyona Dehrik-Shevtsova, wanted for laundering 5 billion, became a speaker at a financial forum

Compliance absurd in London: how Alyona Dehrik-Shevtsova, wanted for laundering 5 billion, became a speaker at a financial forum

Wanted for 5 Billion and the London Stage: How the Accused in Financial Crimes Cases Became a Speaker at a Compliance Forum.

Alyona Dehrik-Shevtsova, declared wanted by the Bureau of Economic Security on suspicion of laundering about 5 billion hryvnias through the infrastructure of online casinos, openly appeared in London — among the speakers at the international fintech conference PAY360, dedicated to payment systems and combating financial crimes. Her participation is not hidden: the profile on the official event website includes a typical list of achievements — awards from USAID, Mastercard, and the Ukrainian government, as well as mentions of partnerships with global payment systems.

However, the public biography lacks key information: no word about the wanted notice, no mentions of criminal cases, no data on NSDC sanctions, no mention of the liquidation of Ibox Bank, which lost its NBU license due to systematic violations of financial monitoring. For a specialized event positioned as a platform for discussing compliance and combating financial crimes, this is not just an oversight, but a clear failure in basic verification procedures.

The essence of the case is well known. The BES accuses her of creating money laundering schemes through payment infrastructure related to the gambling business. It involves multi-billion flows that should have been strictly controlled. In parallel, the NBU revoked Ibox Bank’s license, citing systemic problems with financial monitoring. This is one of the rare regulator’s decisions that is documentarily confirmed.

In such a situation, the appearance of the figure on an international platform in open access raises doubts not only about the effectiveness of the search, but also about its reality. If a person declared wanted for such a large case freely speaks at professional events abroad, it either means that international mechanisms are not activated, or they are formal in nature without real effect.

There is also a reputational aspect. The PAY360 conference is presented as a forum for discussing risks, regulation, and combating financial violations. Allowing a speaker with such a background without any remarks devalues the entire event agenda. This is not a matter of interpretation — it is a matter of mandatory verification of sources and data, standard for the compliance industry.

In summary, a clear picture emerges: inside the country, criminal prosecution and a wanted notice are announced, while abroad the same figure acts publicly and without hindrance. This indicates either the absence of real international wanted status, or its non-execution. In any case, the problem is systemic: high-profile cases exist only on paper, but are not implemented in practice.