UAH 80 million in losses: former Odesa Regional Council official served with suspicion

On Nov. 3, 2021, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) served the former head of the Property Relations Department of the Odesa Regional Council with a suspicion notice. He is charged with abuse of power resulting in UAH 80 million losses to the city. The actions of the suspect fall under Part 2 Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, the former official implemented a scheme causing Odesa to lose two architectural monuments - Marazli's Dacha and Fabrytsky's Estate - as well as a number of buildings and the land beneath them. The scheme had it that the facilities located in a recreational area (about 300 m from the sea) were leased to a private company in 2017 for a period of 10 years. Subsequently, the then official of the Council ensured the inclusion of these objects in the list of those subject to privatization. As a result, in 2018, the buildings were sold for UAH 29.7 million to a tenant company, which is almost twice cheaper than the market value established by auditors. The buyer also received the right to use the land plot of more than 1.2 hectares, which at the time of sale was not legally registered. Therefore, the city did not receive a penny from the deal while the right to use such a plot cost at the time of sale over UAH 56 million.

To prevent the destruction of the architectural monuments and further possible illegal development of the recreational area, NABU initiated their arrest. The High Anti-Corruption Court granted the motion: in the autumn of 2019, the buildings were arrested, in February 2021 - the land.

The investigation seeks to identify other possible participants in the crime.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered non-guilty in the commission of a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until he or she is found guilty by court.