Exposed Kharkiv Regional Council official notified of suspicion

On July 23, 2021, the Deputy Chairman of the Kharkiv Regional Council and his accomplice, a lawyer, who had been exposed the day before, were notified of suspicion of accepting a UAH 1.05 million bribe. The actions of the official fall under Part 4 Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ("Accepting an illegal benefit in a particularly large amount, combined with extortion"), of his accomplice – under Part 5 Article 27, Part 4 Art. 368.

As established, in early 2021, the official demanded UAH 1.05 million in undue advantage from the head of a regional utility company, a subsidiary of the Kharkiv Regional Council, for retaining him in office.

During the first half of 2021, the official and his accomplice received UAH 700,000 in several tranches.

On July 21, 2021, they were caught red-handed and detained under Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine after receiving the last part of the undue advantage in the amount of UAH 350 thousand.

NABU and SAPO have been investigating the above facts since January 2021.

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.