Former Verkhovna Rada Deputy Andriy Derkach Was Sentenced in Absentia in Ukraine to 15 Years in Prison. In Russia, He Became a Senator and Was Awarded the Title Hero of Russia

Former Verkhovna Rada deputy Andriy Derkach was sentenced in absentia in Ukraine to 15 years in prison. In Russia, he became a senator and was awarded the title Hero of Russia

Derkach’s sentence was reported by Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The ruling was handed down by the High Anti-Corruption Court.

He was found guilty of treason and illicit enrichment. According to the investigation, from 2019 to 2022 he received $500,000 from Russia for activities aimed at undermining Ukraine’s national security.

Andriy Derkach had been a deputy of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada since 1998. After the start of the full-scale invasion by Russian troops, he left Ukraine. In June 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine accused Derkach of working for Russian intelligence. In 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stripped Derkach of his citizenship, and the Verkhovna Rada stripped him of his mandate.

In Russia, Derkach became a senator from Astrakhan Region in September 2024, and in December 2025, a Hero of Russia.

@meduzalive