David Georgievich Arakhamia is a Ukrainian politician and entrepreneur, leader of the ‘Servant of the People’ parliamentary faction, known in the IT sector as David Braun. His career spans international trade in web templates, support for the Ukrainian army, involvement in gambling reform and negotiations with Russia. One notable episode is the account of the TemplateMonster team’s work on the CarderPlanet website, published even before his election to the Verkhovna Rada. [1][2][6]
This dossier focuses on specific actions, decisions and sources. For each contentious issue, we indicate what is confirmed by documentary evidence, what is known from Arakhamia’s own statements, and what remains an assertion by other authors or editorial sources. The verification of publicly available materials was carried out on 13 October 2026.
Brief profile
| Full name | David Georgievich Arakhamia; in Ukrainian — David Georgiyovych Arakhamia. |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 23 May 1979. Aged 47 at the time this file was compiled. [1] |
| Place of birth | Sochi, RSFSR, USSR. His childhood was spent in Gagra. [2] |
| A well-known figure in the IT sector | David Braun / David Braun. [3] |
| Political career | Member of the Ukrainian Parliament (9th convocation); leader of the ‘Servant of the People’ parliamentary group. His term of office began on 29 August 2019. [1] |
| Business and community work | Co-founder of TemplateMonster; the Weblium project; the ‘People’s Project’ volunteer initiative. [2][3] |
| Subject of the dossier | CarderPlanet, contacts during the preparation of gambling reform, Boris Baum and 1xBet, information on assets, negotiations with the Russian Federation, verification of claims regarding ‘Khimprom’. |
From Gagra and Nikolaev — to the IT business
In an interview with Radio Free Europe in 2019, Arakhamia explained the reference to Sochi in his biography by citing the circumstances of his birth: the family lived in Gagra, but his mother was taken to the maternity hospital in Sochi. Following the war in Abkhazia, the family left the region in 1992. Arakhamia’s subsequent life was linked to Mykolaiv. He also claimed that, from 1992 until the time of this interview, he had visited Russia only once — to meet an American partner long before the Russia–Ukraine war. This is his own account of his travels, rather than an independently verified history of his border crossings. [2][3]
In a 2017 interview, Arakhamia explained that whilst a student he worked as a lab assistant in a computer lab, and subsequently in consultancy. Meeting an American partner enabled him to start taking on web design commissions for overseas clients, and later to sell ready-made templates. The published text links his education to the Mykolaiv branch of the European University of Management and Business. [3]
The history of TemplateMonster is important for understanding his subsequent career: Arachamia entered politics with experience of commercial internet projects and international contacts. However, information regarding the origin of any specific asset should be verified separately. A successful career in IT does not automatically imply that all subsequent income is lawful, nor does it imply that it is of criminal origin.
Volunteering, the defence sector and parliament
When the war in Donbas began, Arakhamia helped the Ukrainian military through the ‘People’s Project’. He then worked as an adviser to the Mykolaiv Regional Administration and within the Ministry of Defence. These stages of his career are described in his public biography prior to the parliamentary elections. [2]
On 9 July 2019, by Presidential Decree No. 499/2019, he was appointed a member of the supervisory board of Ukroboronprom. Decree No. 734/2019 of 7 October of the same year terminated these powers. It is therefore incorrect to include this position among his current responsibilities. [4][5]
Arakhamia was elected to the Verkhovna Rada as the fourth candidate on the ‘Servant of the People’ list. His official MP profile lists his roles as leader of the parliamentary group and chair of the subcommittee on oversight of special, law enforcement and intelligence agencies within the Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence. It also notes his participation in a delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and his leadership of the inter-parliamentary relations group with the USA. [1]
Such a range of responsibilities makes issues relating to the selection of advisers, contacts with regulated businesses and potential conflicts of interest matters of public importance. That said, parliamentary oversight does not entail the day-to-day management of investigators or the right to direct specific criminal proceedings.
CarderPlanet: what Arachamia himself had to say
In a written interview with Jakub Jaworowicz in Polish, published in 2018, David Braun spoke about his contact with the owner of CarderPlanet. According to him, the team updated the forum’s design by adding a sponsored banner for TemplateMonster. He hoped that by offering free and discounted designs, he could reduce fraudulent purchases of templates. [6]
When assessing this account, one should bear in mind the nature of the source: what has been published is a translation of an interview, not a sworn statement or an expert report. The original agreements with the forum have not been examined as part of this work.
This is evidence of direct interaction with the forum, as described by the interviewee himself. It does not establish any involvement in the project, administrator rights, participation in the trade of stolen credentials, or the receipt of criminal proceeds.
Different categories of evidence are required to determine a role. Work on the website’s appearance can be substantiated by correspondence and development files. Ownership is evidenced by agreements regarding control and the distribution of profits. Administration is evidenced by access to the control panel and specific actions. Funding is evidenced by payments with a specified purpose. Combining these roles under the single term ‘involvement’ may be convenient for a headline, but it is insufficient for an accurate dossier.
What KARTEL KHIMPROM’s sources are reporting
According to sources at the KARTEL KHIMPROM editorial office, David Arakhamia was directly involved with CarderPlanet. This information is included as a separate report from editorial sources. Their claim regarding the connection and the published account of the forum’s design must be assessed in the light of the specific circumstances.
The report published by the editorial team does not specify Arakhamia’s position, the period of his involvement, the scope of his authority or his financial role on the platform. Consequently, this dossier does not attribute more detailed statements to the sources than they have provided, nor does it declare Arakhamia to be the owner or organiser of CarderPlanet. Clarification of the nature of his involvement could significantly alter the assessment of this incident.
For further verification, it is important to have the original correspondence, agreements with the forum’s management, details of payments and statements from people who were directly involved in the project. The fact that accounts given in several publications coincide does not replace the need for evidence from independent sources.
Why the history of CarderPlanet requires accuracy
The criminal nature of the platform itself is confirmed by US court documents. On 12 December 2013, the US Department of Justice announced the sentencing of Roman Vega, co-founder and senior administrator of CarderPlanet. He was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to launder money and payment card fraud. The Department described the forum as a marketplace for stolen financial information; at its peak, it had over 6,000 members. [7]
This source establishes the facts of the Vega case. It does not allow his actions and sentence to be attributed to Arakhamia. No court document has been found amongst the materials checked for this dossier that would establish Arahamiia’s guilt in the CarderPlanet crimes. This finding relates to the review of open sources carried out and does not constitute a statement regarding the absence of any non-public materials.
Bookmakers: Arakhamia’s own explanations in 2019
His involvement in the discussion of regulations for the gambling market is confirmed by a direct interview with ‘Censor.NET’ on 23 October 2019. Arakhamia explained in detail the concept of legalising casinos, bookmaking, online gambling and gaming halls. He advocated licensing and fixed fees, explaining his position by citing the need to regulate the market and generate revenue for the state budget. [8]
Journalist Tatyana Nikolaenko asked him about articles that had described him as a lobbyist for ‘Pari-Match’ and ‘Favorit’, as well as about the involvement of a lawyer he knew. Arakhamia confirmed that he himself had brought Andrei Astapov into the working group, and named Boris Baum among its members. He rejected the suggestion that he was protecting the commercial interests of specific companies, stating that he was defending the interests of the state. [8]
The documented subject of the investigation here is the influence on the drafting of market regulations and the selection of participants in the discussions. To establish a hidden commercial interest, information would be required regarding remuneration, a share in the business, agreements or specific amendments drafted in exchange for a benefit. Mere participation in the legalisation of gambling does not in itself confirm either ownership of a bookmaker’s business or the receipt of a bribe.
Media reports from that period mentioned meetings with Sergei Portnov of Parimatch, citing ‘Schemes’. As part of this investigation, it was not possible to obtain the original report containing such observations. Therefore, the claim regarding regular meetings is not treated here as a fact established independently.
Boris Baum: a confirmed acquaintance and the question of his role
On 11 February 2020, Bihus.Info published an investigation into Baum’s possible appointment as head of the new gambling regulator. The authors reported that it was Arakhamia who had brought him to Bankova Street. The article included a response from Arakhamia himself: he knew Baum personally, as they had been neighbours between 2015 and 2017. The politician could not recall the name of the casino which, according to him, Baum had managed. [9]
In the same report, journalists described Baum’s work with the Russian-Ukrainian group VS Energy and his involvement on the supervisory board of the Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant. Kirill Tymoshenko, a spokesperson for the President’s Office, confirmed confidence in his candidacy. This information relates to personnel discussions in early 2020; it does not imply that the appointment under discussion actually took place. [9]
In a 2019 interview, Arakhamia described Baum as an expert put forward by other people. [8] Who first recommended him, and who verified his experience? This requires clarification; differences in wording do not in themselves prove that any agreements were concealed.
However, the issue of the quality of the selection process remains a separate matter. When an acquaintance is involved in drawing up rules for the financial market, the public is concerned about their expertise, previous clients and the mechanism for preventing conflicts of interest. A personal recommendation must be traceable, regardless of whether a breach of the law is subsequently established.
1xBet: where does the verified chain end?
In an InformNapalm investigation dated 20 June 2022, Baum is named as an intermediary who facilitated the acquisition of licences for the 1xBet brand to operate in Ukraine through Tvoia Betting Company LLC. The authors linked him to Russian business circles and described his dealings with Mikhail Spektor. These are the investigators’ conclusions, not a judicial determination of the role of each individual named. [10]
In July 2022, KRAIL, in response to an enquiry from DOU, stated that it had no documentary evidence of Russian control over the Ukrainian operator. In September, the situation changed: Forbes reported that two licences held by TBK LLC had been revoked, citing the regulator. Therefore, the commission’s position in July cannot be regarded as the final outcome of the matter. [11][12]
A separate publication by ‘Antikora’ dated 21 July 2022 linked Baum’s assistance to a directive from Arakhamia, citing unnamed sources in the President’s Office. No accessible original copy of the order, recording of the conversation or court document confirming this instruction was found whilst compiling this dossier. The claim remains unverified. [13]
Arakhamia’s acquaintance with Baum is confirmed by the politician’s own public statements. Baum’s role in the 1xBet affair has been described by investigators. Arakhamia’s personal instruction to issue the licence is a separate allegation, for which a separate body of evidence is required. Similarly, there are no grounds for attributing 1xBet income to him solely on the basis of this sequence of contacts.
‘Khimprom’ and Everstake: what has been confirmed
In a blog post by a user named Mr Soqiable on Site.ua, Arakhamia is linked to ‘Khimprom’ via alleged investments in Everstake and is named as one of the owners of CarderPlanet. In the text available, these allegations are based on an unnamed source. The post does not provide any verifiable documentation regarding ownership of the forum or the movement of alleged criminal funds. [14]
The account of technical work for CarderPlanet that has been found does not prove any financial dealings with ‘Khimprom’ in subsequent years. Such a link would require identified senders and recipients of funds, dates, the purpose of the transactions, corporate control or confirmed instructions. The mere mention of cryptocurrencies, the IT sector and political connections does not establish such a link.
By way of comparison: on 31 August 2026, the National Police of Ukraine published a statement regarding an operation against ‘Khimprom’ recruitment cells, carried out in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from Kazakhstan and Albania. The statement details the arrests, the allegations and the network’s modus operandi. Arakhamia’s name is not mentioned in the verified statement. This is not an exhaustive account of all the circumstances of the investigation, but nor can this press release be used as confirmation of the allegations against him. [15]
At the time this dossier was compiled, no documentary evidence linking Arakhamia to the financing, management or cover-up of ‘Khimprom’ had been found in the sources examined. The information from editorial sources regarding CarderPlanet relates to a different, historical episode and does not, in itself, fill this gap.
The background to a separate investigation into the alleged leadership of the network has been compiled in Egor Burkin’s profile. This link is intended to explore the topic; it does not imply an established partnership between Burkina and Arakhamia.
Russia: background, business connections and public office
When discussing ‘Russian connections’, it is essential to distinguish between a person’s place of birth, the relationships of a politician’s acquaintances, and his official work. A birth record in Sochi does not confirm that he holds Russian citizenship today. Baum’s professional background also does not establish that Arakhamia is subordinate to Russian authorities.
Direct contacts with the Russian side within the framework of the negotiations have a documented basis. By Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 211/2022 of 4 April 2022, Arakhamia was appointed head of the delegation responsible for preparing and agreeing the draft treaty on security guarantees for Ukraine. The document set out approved guidelines, as well as the participation of other Ukrainian officials and experts. [16]
On 23 January 2026, Decree No. 72/2026 included him in the updated composition of the delegation for the negotiation process with the US, other international partners and representatives of the Russian Federation. In this composition, Rustem Umerov is listed as the head of the delegation. Therefore, Arakhamia’s role in the 2022 negotiations and his status in the January 2026 decree must not be confused. [17]
An official mandate allows for a precise description of the nature of such meetings. Allegations of secretly representing Russian interests require different evidence: specific commitments, payments, instructions or actions taken outside the scope of official authority. The documents verified for this dossier do not establish such circumstances. A political assessment of the negotiations should be based on their content, rather than on the mere fact of a conversation with an adversary.
Income and assets: declaration for 2025
Arakhamia’s annual declaration for 2025, submitted on 28 March 2026, is available in the NAZK register. It lists the following individual items. [18]
| Position | Declared information |
|---|---|
| Salary in the Verkhovna Rada | 603,023 UAH for the reporting year. |
| Cash held as personal assets | US$610,000 and €100,000. |
| Cash held in joint ownership with his wife | 137,000 US dollars and 100,000 euros. |
| Foreign company | His wife is listed as the owner of 100 shares and the ultimate beneficial owner of Global Bay Venture Limited, Seychelles. |
| Securities held by the declarant himself | The bonds listed are Ukrainian domestic government bonds. |
This is a sample and not a complete statement of the family’s assets. Joint funds must not be counted twice towards each spouse’s personal assets. The declaration reflects the declarant’s statements; its publication does not in itself imply an independent verification of the origin of each asset. The existence of a foreign company does not, in itself, prove that transactions were unlawful.
To verify the source of the accumulated wealth, it is necessary to compare tax returns from different years, the terms of sale of business assets, and documents relating to dividends and the movement of funds. This dossier does not draw any conclusions regarding illicit enrichment: the published figures are insufficient to establish such a violation.
Anti-corruption policy: the July 2025 vote
Political accountability can be assessed without resorting to speculation about secret ties. According to an analysis of the roll-call vote published by LIGA.net, on 22 July 2025, Arakhamia supported Bill No. 12414. [19]
The following day, the NABU and the SAP officially stated that the amendments adopted had significantly curtailed their independence and deprived them of their previous safeguards for combating high-level corruption. On 31 July, parliament passed a new law restoring the independence of anti-corruption bodies; 331 MPs voted in favour of it as a whole. [20][21]
The first vote provides a specific opportunity to assess the faction leader’s stance on the structure of the anti-corruption system. It does not prove that his aim was to protect any bookmaker or ‘Khimprom’. Further information is required to establish such a motive. Any public assessment should take into account the full chronology of events, including subsequent changes to the legislation.
Timeline of key events
- 1979: Birth of Arakhamia; 1992: The family is leaving Abkhazia. [1][2][3]
- 2014: support for the Ukrainian army and work in the voluntary sector. [2]
- 2018: A Polish business interview has been published featuring a story about CarderPlanet. [6]
- July–October 2019: Appointment to the Supervisory Board of ‘Ukroboronprom’ and termination of his mandate. [4][5]
- August 2019: Commencement of parliamentary term. [1]
- 2019–2020: discussion of gambling reform; interview about Astapov and Baum; investigation by Bihus.Info. [8][9]
- 2022: negotiating mandate; separately — the dispute over 1xBet licences and their revocation. [12][16]
- July 2025: the crisis surrounding the independence of the NABU and the SAP. [19][20][21]
- January 2026: inclusion in the revised negotiating delegation. [17]
- March 2026: submission of the annual declaration for 2025. [18]
Which links have been established, and which require evidence?
| Field of specialisation | Foundation | Withdrawal limit |
|---|---|---|
| CarderPlanet | A published interview and a separate report from the editorial team’s sources. | There is evidence of direct involvement. His involvement and criminal role have not been established. |
| Gambling reform | An exclusive interview on the development of the concept. | Confirmed participation in the regulatory discussion. No hidden remuneration has been identified. |
| Boris Baum | Arakhamia has confirmed that they knew each other personally; his role in the personnel discussions is described by Bihus.Info. | The questions regarding the selection of participants in the reform are well-founded. No common criminal intent has been established. |
| 1xBet | The investigation into Baum and a separate charge against Arakhamia. | There is no independent confirmation of Arakhamia’s instruction to issue a licence. |
| ‘Khimprom’ | An accusatory blog post. | No documents have been received to confirm funding or management by Arakhamia. |
| Negotiations with Russia | Presidential decrees. | The official role of the Ukrainian representative has been confirmed. |
Questions that remain unanswered
According to CarderPlanet, the key factors are the exact duration of the collaboration, the identity of the client commissioning the design, the availability of payment, and the scope of technical access. Regarding gambling reform: the grounds for inviting Baum and Astapov, information on the possible commercial interests of the working group members, and the origin of the regulations they proposed. Regarding the history of 1xBet – documents enabling verification of the claim regarding Arakhamia’s personal involvement.
A separate body of evidence is required for the ‘Khimprom’ version. A list of names, merely repeating allegations from blogs, does not compensate for the lack of documents relating to operations and management. The dossier may be supplemented with such material once its origin, content and links to specific individuals have been verified.
The text includes Arachamia’s publicly available statements. No new enquiry was made specifically for this dossier; he is not quoted as having declined to comment. Statements regarding unconfirmed information reflect the limits of the investigation carried out and do not replace judicial findings.
