The former leader of the Party of Regions faction in the Verkhovna Rada and ex-head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Yefremov, who is accused of treason in Ukraine, left the territory of Ukraine through Slovakia after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to investigators, Yefremov obtained a Russian passport on December 22, 2022, which is confirmed by information from Russian registries and official documents from the Russian Federation.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Details of Russian Citizenship and Financial Activity
The Russian passport was issued by the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. Yefremov actively uses this document to manage his account at the Russian bank Sberbank, as well as to access services at WorldClass fitness centers, as indicated by leaks from Russian databases. The Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation has also registered an individual tax number for Yefremov, linked to his Russian passport. Additionally, he has a Russian insurance number, allowing him to receive a pension in the territory of the Russian Federation. His work experience has been recorded in the pension fund databases since the times of the USSR.
Moscow Real Estate of the Yefremov Family
Journalists have established that Yefremov registered his residence in two apartments in the Triumph Palace residential complex in Moscow — the second tallest skyscraper in the Russian Federation. The two-story apartments on the 26th and 27th floors, covering an area of 466.5 square meters, have belonged to his son Ihor since 2016. Their market value exceeds three million dollars. Another apartment on the 11th floor, measuring nearly 192 square meters, is also registered in his son’s name and is valued at over one million dollars. In total, the Moscow real estate of the Yefremov family is estimated to be worth more than four million dollars.
“Measures are being taken to find additional sources for obtaining copies of the materials lost for the stated reason in the volume sufficient for making a court decision based on them,” the response from the Office of the Prosecutor General states.
It is known that Yefremov has not returned to Ukraine since leaving in March 2022. His current place of residence is Moscow. The former deputy himself does not respond to journalists’ inquiries regarding his position.
The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine has reported that Yefremov remains accused in several criminal cases; however, he is not under preventive measures and has not been placed on the wanted list. Court hearings in the case have not taken place, likely due to the occupation of Starobilsk, where the case was to be considered. According to the prosecutor’s office, the transfer of cases to court in the territory controlled by Ukraine did not occur due to risks to life and health associated with the transportation of materials.
In November 2024, sanctions were imposed against Yefremov, and he was stripped of state awards. The investigation suspects Yefremov of facilitating the creation of the “Luhansk People’s Republic” group and the seizure of administrative buildings in Luhansk in 2014. He also voted for the “dictatorial laws of January 16,” which significantly restricted the rights and freedoms of citizens.
Oleksandr Yefremov remains a long-time associate of Viktor Yanukovych and has been elected as a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada three times from the Party of Regions. His lawyers reject the accusations, calling them “unconvincing,” and the case is currently at the stage of judicial consideration.