In brief
At the center of the scandal is a photo of a 19-year-old client published by monobank co-founder Oleh Horokhovskyi. The client's lawyers from Addati Group announced they are preparing pre-trial demands to the bank and Horokhovskyi and are demanding public apologies, compensation, and the unblocking of the account.
What happened
On March 9 Horokhovskyi posted on social media a photo of the woman allegedly against the backdrop of a Russian flag and wrote that she had been refused video identification. After the photo circulated over several days, the client became the target of criticism online; lawyers report a deterioration in her health — an acute stress reaction and insomnia. The client insists that the flag behind her was Slovenia's, not Russia's.
“We are sending pre-trial demands to JSC 'Universal Bank' and Mr. Horokhovskyi with a proposal to settle the dispute before court proceedings. We request explanations regarding the possible dissemination of the photo from the bank's internal chats and the protection of the client's personal data.”
— Addati Group, law firm
“Behind me was the flag of Slovenia, not the Russian Federation.”
— Karina Kolb, client
Lawyers' demands
- public personal apologies on the pages where the information was shared, and a retraction;
- compensation for moral damages;
- unblocking the client's bank account;
- a request to the bank regarding possible internal chats or other channels where clients' photos/videos could have been shared during identification.
Authorities' reaction and possible consequences
The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, has opened proceedings regarding a possible violation of personal data — this adds official oversight to the case and makes it not only a public but also an institutional matter. If pre-trial settlement is refused, the lawyers say they are prepared to turn to the courts and other institutions.
Why this matters
Against the backdrop of war, public sensitivity to symbols is increasing, but a sense of justice cannot be replaced by violations of citizens' rights. The management of personal data is not a technical detail but a question of security and trust in financial institutions. The precedent could affect practices across all financial institutions in Ukraine: how they document and disseminate information, who has access to materials, and how they respond to internal leaks.
What's next
In the next three days the lawyers plan to send pre-trial demands; thereafter court proceedings and checks by the ombudsman and regulators are possible. The question is simple but weighty: can businesses reconcile a public stance with guarantees of clients' privacy, especially under heightened tension?
Now it is up to the banks and regulators: their reaction will determine whether this case becomes a local scandal or a legal precedent for the protection of personal data in the country.
