Spanish Court Approves Extradition of Former UN Official Over Bribery Allegations

Spain’s High Court has formally approved the extradition of Vitaly Vanshelboim, a former senior executive at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), to the United States, where he faces charges of bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Vanshelboim, a Ukrainian national, was arrested in Alicante, Spain, in March 2025 under an international warrant issued by the Southern District Court of New York. US prosecutors allege that he accepted at least $2 million in bribes from British businessman David Kendrick, in exchange for diverting over $60 million in UNOPS grants and loans to Kendrick’s companies between 2015 and 2023.

The alleged misconduct included:
- Undisclosed financial relationships with Kendrick.
- Interest-free loans, a Mercedes-Benz for Vanshelboim’s wife, and benefits for his children.
- Misuse of UNOPS funds intended for renewable energy, sustainable housing, and ocean projects.

A UN tribunal previously ordered Vanshelboim to repay $58.8 million, citing “massive financial losses” to UNOPS due to his actions.

In his defense before Spanish authorities, Vanshelboim claimed the charges were politically motivated, citing a book he began writing in 2023 about US military interventions. His legal team argued against extradition on grounds of UN immunity, lack of US jurisdiction, and double jeopardy, but the Spanish court rejected these claims as unsubstantiated.

The court approved extradition on:
- Bribery
- Wire fraud
- Money laundering

However, it denied extradition on conspiracy charges, which are not recognized under Spanish law. The ruling is subject to appeal and final approval by the Spanish government.

Compliance Implications

This case underscores the importance of:
- Robust due diligence in international grant and procurement processes.
- Clear accountability mechanisms within multilateral institutions.
- Cross-border cooperation in financial crime enforcement.

UNOPS has since initiated internal reforms to strengthen oversight and prevent future misconduct.

Sources & Further Reading

Straits Times – Spanish court orders ex-UN official extradited: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/Spanish-court-orders-ex-UN-official-extradited-to-US-in-bribery-case

Yahoo News – Spain to extradite former UN official: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/spain-extradite-former-un-official-165038822.html

Diary Times – Full case summary: https://diarytimes.com/2025/10/21/spanish-court-orders-extradition-of-former-u-n-official-to-the-u-s-on-bribery-charges/

Devdiscourse – Legal analysis: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/3669713-ex-un-official-faces-extradition-to-us-on-bribery-charges

Global Banking & Finance Review – Reuters coverage: https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/spain-court-un-extradition-zero