Land corruption in Kyiv City Council: criminal organization exposed (PHOTOS)

NABU and SAPO conducted a large-scale operation called “Clean City” to eliminate corruption in the land and budget sphere of Kyiv. The activities of a criminal organization headed by a media-famous former deputy of the Kyiv City Council (KCC) were exposed and terminated. One of the key activities involved seizing valuable land for development and influencing the local authorities' decisions on granting land rights.

The suspects are:

• the former deputy of KCC, head of a criminal organization;
• a deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration (KSCA);
• the chairman and a member of the KCC Standing Commission on Architecture, Urban Planning and Land Relations (KCC Land Commission), current KCC deputies;
• two executives of municipal enterprises;
• four other persons.

Seven members of the criminal organization were detained under Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. In total, 10 people were notified of suspicion.

According to the investigation, members of the criminal organization looked for valuable land plots and registered ownership rights to nonexistent houses allegedly built on these territories with controlled persons. The latter then applied to the city council for ownership rights to the land plots under the pretext of servicing the "houses." This also allowed them to elude competitive bidding for the land.

KCC deputies and KCSA officials, being members of the criminal organization or under its influence, facilitated the approval of decisions granting land rights. In return, they received undue advantages in the form of money and real estate. At the same time, these decisions were fully controlled by the members of the criminal organization: the "right" people were granted land rights, while the rest faced artificial obstacles and had to turn to the members of the criminal organization for help.

The head of the criminal organization had a significant influence on processes within the KCC and the KCSA, in particular on the actions of officials, the appointment of loyal individuals to high positions, the dismissal of subordinate employees, and the allocation of budget funds in the interests of the criminal scheme. He also had connections with deputy heads of the KCSA, deputies and the head of the KCC Land Commission, and others. The decision-making center, particularly in the land area, shifted from the KCC to another building, where issues were “resolved” with the involvement of high-ranking city officials and other influential figures.

To conceal their activities, the members of the criminal organization used special mobile communication terminals, pseudonyms, counter-surveillance, and other actions aimed at avoiding responsibility. However, this did not hamper their exposure.

As a result of the criminal organization's activities in 2023-2024, a piece of land in the city center, worth UAH 11.6 million, was illegally withdrawn from the ownership of the Kyiv territorial community.

At the same time, thanks to the timely actions of law enforcement authorities, it was possible to prevent the loss of six more land plots in the capital, with a total value of UAH 83.7 million.

Moreover, an attempt was uncovered to force a private enterprise, through threats and artificial obstacles, to cease its lawful activities in trade and the leasing of commercial premises in one of the capital’s districts, to seize its land plot for further development.

Additionally, an offer of USD 100,000 was documented, intended for a member of the KCC Land Commission for abusing her powers and influence in the interests of a criminal organization.

The investigation is ongoing. Other episodes of criminal activity are being established.