However, on 25 March 2020 Kozhara was arrested by security forces on charges of murdering advertising mogul Serhiy Starytsky on 21 February 2020,[1] and on 23 September 2022, the party "Socialists" was banned by Ukraine.

Nobody is allowed to openly meddle in internal national processes that are taking place in the country today".

[15] At the Munich Security Conference on 1 February, Kozhara gave his opinion of Dmytro Bulatov, leader of "Automaidan," a group of drivers who have provided support for Euromaidan protesters.

BBC News reported that Bulatov appeared on TV with a gash on his face and part of his ear cut off and left the country to receive medical treatment.

"'The only thing he has is a scratch on one of his cheeks,' Kozhara told broadcaster al-Jazeera, 'It looks like the alleged story that he was kidnapped and tortured is not absolutely true.

'"[16] On 25 March 2020 Kozhara was arrested by security forces on charges of murdering advertising mogul Serhiy Starytsky on 21 February 2020.

[1][17][18] According to media reports both were "in a state of heavy intoxication" at a party at Kozhara's house at the time of the alleged shooting.

[17] He was allegedly shot dead in the house of Kozhara and his wife, Maryna Kozerod, in village Chaiky (Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Raion), the suburb of Kyiv, on 21 February 2020.