The Prague City Court sentenced Vladimir Gergel, the founder of the Help Ukraine charity foundation, to 5,5 years in prison for embezzling state subsidies allocated for the integration of Ukrainian refugees, the Ukrainian service of Radio Liberty reported. The court found Gergel guilty of fraud with grants worth 20 million crowns (approximately $892,5 thousand) provided by the Czech Ministry of Education in 2022 for the operation of the Roztyly community center. The funds were intended for organizing Czech language courses and other adaptation programs for Ukrainian children and their parents.

According to the investigation, the day after receiving the first tranche of 15 million crowns, Gergel transferred 2 million crowns ($89,2) to his mother's account. He soon withdrew another 6 million crowns ($267,7) in cash, and then used 8 million crowns ($357) to buy an apartment in Prague's Braník district. After the investigation began, the Czech authorities seized the defendant's assets, including a share in a housing cooperative, worth a total of 12 million crowns. The court ordered Gergel to repay the state 13,3 million crowns, of which he has already repaid about 7 million crowns.

Gergel denied the charges, claiming that he had not appropriated the grants, but had merely returned the money he had previously loaned to the foundation. In his final statement, he said that the Roztyly center was created for the “light and safety” of Ukrainian children. However, the court found his arguments unconvincing, additionally banning Gergel from holding leadership positions in charitable organizations for 5,5 years. The convicted man has filed an appeal, and the case will be heard by a higher court.

The Help Ukraine scandal erupted in August 2024, when Czech Television uncovered irregularities in the spending of funds. Journalists found that the fund was charging parents for their children's participation in programs, which was contrary to the terms of the grant, and was also delaying the payment of salaries to teachers. In August 2024, the Prague prosecutor's office formally charged Gergel with fraud, for which he faced up to 10 years in prison.