Galway businesswoman facing extradition back to Ukraine insists on her innocence

30-year-old Yana Chumak explained to the Irish Independent that she fled her home in Kharkiv following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Yana walked to the Polish border with her mother and they flew to Ireland as refugees in April 2022. Yana’s father remained in Ukraine and he was later drafted into the army, at the age of 55.

Once in Galway, Yana started working part-time as a beautician while studying at Georgina Price College, and in Autumn 2023 she opened her own business, Love Yourself Beauty Room, in Galway City.

“I continued to work but then I understood I wanted my place. I did the same in Ukraine, I had my place, my salon, I was working by myself, promoting it on Instagram.”

Yana started a new life in Galway, but she is now fearing extradition over fraud allegations in her home country.

Todays News In 90 Seconds – July 12 2024

The 30-year-old told the Irish Independent that the accusation relates to an alleged furniture sales ‘scam’ back in 2021. About one month ago, she was informed that Ukrainian authorities were applying for an extradition order.

I can’t believe everything that’s going on. I contacted the embassy of Ukraine in Ireland, nobody answered me. I sent a letter to the Minister of Justice, nobody answered me.

Yana insists she never did anything wrong and said she has contacted the Embassy of Ukraine in Dublin and the Minister for Justice for support.

She said: “I’m afraid of Ukraine, I’m afraid of the system and I’m afraid for my life, because I ran away from war.

“I can’t believe everything that’s going on. I contacted the embassy of Ukraine in Ireland, nobody answered me. I sent a letter to the Minister of Justice, nobody answered me.”

Yana added that she is unsure she has enough money to cover future court expenses, and if forced to travel back to Ukraine she will not have a place to live in.

She said: “I don’t have a place where to live. I don’t have resources for living there [in Ukraine]. Every day bombing, they took my father, 55 years old, two months ago to war, I don’t have family, my mom is here surviving because of me, because she doesn’t have English at all.

“Where am I going to live? I would need money for rent, I would have go to every day to court. And it’s a war zone.”

Yana added: “I’m not a criminal, I never was and never will be.

“Maybe this article can help me reach some person or lawyer who wants to help or who knows how to help. I would be blessed [if that happened]”.

Yana has an appeals court date on Monday July 15.