The media figure is suspected of extorting money for deleting publications regarding a security firm
German police conducted a search on August 26, 2026, at the Berlin apartment of Stanislav Rechinsky, founder of the website ORD. He is suspected of extorting cryptocurrency from a business executive in exchange for deleting critical articles. This was reported by UkrRudProm, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
According to the National Police, the owner of the website and an associated Telegram channel demanded the equivalent of 3,500 USD from a businessman. After the money was transferred in cryptocurrency, the damaging materials were removed. Law enforcement agencies are currently preparing documents for an international arrest warrant and subsequent extradition of the suspect.
Although the name of the victim company has not been officially disclosed, evidence strongly points to the security holding company SHERIFF, led by Dmytro Stryzhov. The investigation links the extortion demand to an article about the company’s activities published on the ORD website on May 20, 2026.
SHERIFF has been a significant player in the private security market since 2003. The holding specializes in physical security, cash collection, and safety system installation, claiming to manage over 45,000 facilities with a staff of 2,500. A notable feature of Stryzhov’s business model is the management of numerous affiliated legal entities, which had previously drawn attention from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2020.
Issues with government procurement
The group has faced repeated challenges regarding public tenders. In 2019, the Antimonopoly Committee recognized the private enterprise Sheriff as having participated in anti-competitive coordinated actions, leading to financial penalties. Later, questions were raised regarding contract fulfillment with state enterprise Forests of Ukraine in 2023, when journalists claimed security staff were absent from guarded posts.
Despite several criminal proceedings being initiated, some were closed between 2024 and 2025, and company representatives stated they were only involved in the cases as witnesses. Dmytro Stryzhov has rejected the allegations, framing the situation as a market redistribution, claiming his holding began displacing long-term players, such as Venbest, from state contracts.
Illustrative photo: Jessica Ogden & Emily Maemura / CC BY 4.0
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