Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported that 31-year-old Nazariy Gusakov, a patient with SMA and accused of fraud, left for Italy, but plans to return to Ukraine.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported that 31-year-old Nazariy Gusakov, a patient with SMA and accused of fraud, left for Italy, but plans to return to Ukraine.
According to Sadovy, the Lviv City Council has made inquiries to the embassies of Ukraine in Italy and Italy in Ukraine to find out whether he is receiving assistance abroad.
«We ask you to provide as much information as possible, in particular, whether Nazar is on any state or municipal support program. This is important for understanding what kind of assistance he may have received recently — in addition to assistance from the city of Lviv and charitable contributions that are known,» the mayor wrote.
Andriy Sadovyi stressed that the city is ready to continue purchasing the necessary medicines for Nazar and another man who is also on this program. However, according to the procedure, these medicines can only be obtained in Lviv.
«Last week I spoke briefly with Nazar — he confirmed that he is currently abroad. His family doctor also knows that he has repeatedly traveled to Italy for short periods. As far as we understand, his mother lives there. This is important: he did not leave after the scandal broke out — it was a planned trip that took place even before public suspicions of possible abuse began to appear,» Sadovy added.
Gusakov also told the mayor that he needed treatment and intended to return to Lviv.
The City Council assures that it is cooperating with investigative journalists and law enforcement officers, providing them with all available documents and facts to establish the truth.
Let us remind you that in recent days the scandalous story of Nazariy Gusakov, a boy with a rare disease SMA (spinal muscular atrophy), for whom Ukrainians massively collected donations both through social networks and the media, as well as with the assistance of many top bloggers, politicians, representatives of show business and other public figures, has not subsided. Journalists found out that the funds that Nazariy received as a result of the collections allegedly significantly exceed the needs for his treatment, not to mention the fact that part of the medications were provided by the Lviv City Council.
Nazariy Gusakov was collecting donations for treatment. On June 18, social media users asked him to provide reports. When he failed to do so, he was accused of misusing the donations. Gusakov himself stated that he agreed that separate accounts should have been opened for the collection and receipts for expenses should have been collected, but he did not have the relevant experience.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Gusakov left the territory of Ukraine on June 13, and his whereabouts and other circumstances are currently being established.
The National Police has initiated criminal proceedings under Part 4 of Article 190 (fraud) and Part 3 of Article 209 (legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The circle of victims who could have become victims of fraud is being established, as well as the whereabouts of Nazariy Gusakov and other persons who could have helped him in illegal transactions. However, the Lviv City Council reported that Nazariy has been receiving medication in the required dosage at the city’s expense since June 2024.
Monobank co-founder Oleg Horohovsky also reacted to the situation.
Read the story about millions, crypto, casinos, and SMA here.
