European Arrest Warrant against Dmytro Karchuk withdrawn, he has been released in Poland. Statement by CEO Club Ukraine
European Arrest Warrant against Dmytro Karchuk withdrawn, he has been released in Poland. Statement by CEO Club Ukraine
CEO Club Ukraine and the defence team of the club’s executive director Dmytro Karchuk announce that the German side has withdrawn the European Arrest Warrant on the basis of which Dmytro Karchuk was detained on the territory of the Republic of Poland. The Polish court has ruled to release him from custody.
On 14 August 2026 Dmytro Karchuk was released from the remand prison in Przemyśl, where he had been held since 28 July 2026. He is currently on the territory of Ukraine.
Let us recall the circumstances of the case. On 28 July 2026 the executive director and co-owner of CEO Club Ukraine was detained while crossing the Polish border on the basis of a European Arrest Warrant issued by German law enforcement authorities. According to the German side, in September 2024 a person linked to Dmytro Karchuk arrived by truck at a warehouse in Germany, used forged transport documents, took delivery of a consignment of 171 e-bikes worth almost 127,000 euros and failed to deliver it to its destination.
The position of the defence was unequivocal from day one: Dmytro Karchuk has no connection whatsoever to these events and could not physically have been at the scene of the offence, as he was in Ukraine. The defence proceeded from two possible explanations: mistaken identity, or the unlawful use of Dmytro Karchuk’s personal data or documents by third parties. Legal support in the case was provided by the Arzinger team of lawyers together with Polish and German attorneys. A body of independent evidence supporting this position was submitted to the competent authorities.
In addition, 55 letters of reference from entrepreneurs, politicians, members of the intellectual community and opinion leaders were collected in support of Dmytro Karchuk, as well as statements from 11 people in the Republic of Poland who expressed their readiness to act as personal guarantors for him. For the business community, which has known Dmytro Karchuk for more than ten years, the charges brought against him were from the outset incompatible with his professional reputation and business record.
CEO Club Ukraine expresses its gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and to the Consulate of Ukraine in Lublin for their consistent engagement in the case. The Consul maintained constant contact, visited Dmytro Karchuk in person, communicated with the Polish side and provided assistance within the scope of diplomatic powers.
The Club also expresses its gratitude to the Ukrainian media and to everyone who publicly supported Dmytro Karchuk. Hundreds of publications made it possible to show that behind a formal arrest warrant stands a specific person — their life, their reputation and, as it turned out, a serious problem of mistaken identity. A separate thank you goes to everyone who contributed to the case with their name, their reputation, professional advice or time.
The case is not closed. CEO Club Ukraine and the defence intend to establish exactly which of Dmytro Karchuk’s personal data was used, how it came into the hands of the perpetrators, and what the mechanism of the crime was that ultimately led to the detention of an uninvolved person. Work in this direction continues.