Bribery in Verkhovna Rada: criminal group exposed
NABU and SAPO have notified participants of an organized criminal group operating within the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of suspicion. They facilitated the receipt of unlawful benefits by MPs for proper voting.
According to the investigation, the group had a hierarchical structure and a clear division of roles. Its members included acting lawmakers. The group’s activities were coordinated by one of the MPs.
To organize voting, members of the group sent instructions with bill numbers in a specially created WhatsApp messenger group.
After the voting, certain MPs were systematically handed cash payments.
Suspects: 5 MPs.
Legal qualification: Part 3 Article 28, Part 4 Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered not-guilty in the commission of a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until he or she is found guilty by court.