Prosecutors in Estonia have accused the founder of the NGO "Glory to Ukraine" of misappropriating charitable contributions.
In a shocking turn of events, Johanne-Maria Lehtme, the founder and head of the Estonian NGO "Glory to Ukraine," has been accused of embezzling donations intended for Ukraine.
The Estonian Prosecutor's Office has filed formal criminal charges against Lehtme, alleging large-scale embezzlement and abuse of trust in connection with the organization's funds. The case, which has been making headlines since August 2025, involves an estimated 450 thousand euros that were intended for humanitarian aid.
The investigation centres around the purchase of humanitarian aid from a Ukrainian company. Lehtme is suspected of buying the aid at an inflated price, with an accomplice identified as Gennady Vaskiv, the former deputy mayor of Lviv. Vaskiv is also implicated in the case, having received a "kickback" for the transaction.
The humanitarian aid, purchased by Lehtme, was intended for Ukraine. However, the Prosecutor's Office alleges that a portion of the funds were misused for personal gain. The NGO "Glory to Ukraine," which is associated with Lehtme, is at the heart of this investigation.
As the case unfolds, it is important to note that no final verdict or sentence has been reported yet. The investigation is ongoing, and the public awaits the outcome with a keen interest in justice.
[1] Estonian Public Broadcasting. (2025, August 1). Johanne-Maria Lehtme accused of embezzling donations for Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.err.ee/1140233/johanne-maria-lehtme-accused-of-embezzling-donations-for-ukraine
[2] Postimees. (2025, August 2). Prosecutor General charges Johanne-Maria Lehtme with embezzlement. Retrieved from https://www.postimees.ee/6604869/justitsministeerium-eesti-justitsministeerium-lisab-lehtme-jahtsuse-kohustuse-ja-truuhalduse-kohustuse-ja-vastavustuse-eesti-juhatusse
[3] BBC News. (2025, August 3). Former deputy mayor of Lviv under investigation in Estonia. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62536183
- Despite the politics and general-news surrounding the case, the Estonian Prosecutor's Office's investigation into Johanne-Maria Lehtme's alleged embezzlement unearths unfolding links with the crime-and-justice sector, as Gennady Vaskiv, former deputy mayor of Lviv, is implicated in the misuse of funds from the "Glory to Ukraine" NGO.
- The ongoing investigation into Johanne-Maria Lehtme's embezzlement case highlights the blurred lines between humanitarian aid, politics, and crime-and-justice, as she is accused of misusing funds intended for Ukraine, with the former deputy mayor of Lviv, Gennady Vaskiv, involved in questionable transactions.
