Rakhiv Ex-Mayor Medvid Extradited From Romania, Released on Bail

Viktor Medvid, the former mayor of Rakhiv in the Zakarpattia region of western Ukraine, has been extradited from Romania and placed under arrest, according to the Zakarpattia Regional Prosecutor's Office and the National Police Department of Strategic Investigations.

Medvid became a suspect in 2023 and fled abroad after being formally notified of suspicion. He was placed on an Interpol international wanted list. He was first detained in the Czech Republic in late 2025 and banned from leaving the country, but subsequently fled to Romania, where he was detained again and ultimately extradited to Ukraine on September 10, 2026.

Following extradition, a court ordered pre-trial detention. However, the presiding judge set an alternative measure -- bail of approximately 333,000 hryvnias -- which Medvid promptly paid and was released.

Prosecution Appeals Bail Amount

Prosecutors consider the bail insufficient to ensure proper procedural conduct given Medvid's history of evading justice. They have announced an appeal of the decision in a higher court.

Medvid is suspected of participating in a scheme to inflate costs during the construction of a rehabilitation and health center. Documents showed that all contracted work was fully completed, but expert analysis revealed that the actual volumes and costs of work performed were significantly overstated.

He is charged under Part 4 of Article 191 of Ukraine's Criminal Code (misappropriation of others' property through abuse of official position, committed by prior agreement with a group of persons) and a count of official document falsification. Prosecutors say he faces up to 8 years in prison. The case is part of Ukraine's broader anti-corruption efforts targeting local government officials.