NABU and SAPO defended Ukraine’s anti-corruption front in 2022

Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies are breaking their own records. In the past six months alone, NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors exposed 149 persons and notified them of suspicion. This is more than in the 12 months of 2021 or 2020.

Detectives discovered two organized criminal groups led by high-ranking state bank and ARMA officials. They also stopped the activity of a new criminal organization in Odesa, which usurped the resources of the local community.

The appointment of a new SAPO head in July 2022 facilitated the boost in investigative actions and subsequent progress. He gave impetus to high-profile proceedings, where detectives gathered enough evidence. These are long-blocked «Ukrnafta» and «Rotterdam Plus», cases involving over UAH 50 billion in losses to the state or the «Odesa Port Plant» case, in which after several years of delay a former MP was finally served with charges.

In the second half of 2022, NABU and SAPO served suspicion notices on 15 MPs (both incumbent and former). One of them is suspected of treason and receiving money from russia's FSB. Eight cases were referred to the HACC, including those of attempted bribery of police officers and paid facilitation of medical equipment procurement. An MP of the seventh convocation was convicted, and the ruling took effect.

Detectives completed the investigation into a number of high-profile schemes: the "PrivatBank" case episode involving the embezzlement of UAH 8.4 billion or the "ARMA" case delving into the misappropriation of USD 398,000. The file was also disclosed in the case of the ex-head of the State Border Guard Service, who NABU and SAPO suspect of a housing scheme.

PRETRIAL INVESTIGATION
(as of 31.12.2022)

716
active investigations
413
suspects
414
indictments
799
accused

in 2022

456
new investigations
187
suspects
54
indictments
129
accused

in the second half of 2022

293
new investigations
149
suspects
34
indictments
68
accused

Exposed in the second half of 2022:

17

heads of public enterprises

15

MPs of various convocations

10

members of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission

4

judges

3

top officials of the State Border Guard Service

2

ex-heads of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission

2

prosecutors

1

ex-head of the State Fiscal Service

Faced trial in the second half of 2022:

11

heads of public enterprises

8

MPs of various convocations

3

deputies of regional councils and Kyiv City Council

3

prosecutors

2

top officials of the State Border Guard Service

2

top officials of central executive bodies

1

ex-president of Ukraine

1

judge

Convicted of corruption*
in the second half of 2022:

NEW CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION IN ODESA

In December 2022, a year after NABU and SAPO stopped the activity of a criminal organization that controlled almost the entire economic life of Odesa a new one was exposed. It took over the functions of a "one-stop shop" for business, dealing with a vast scope of issues: from allocating land and procurement to operations with communal property. To this end, local officials were involved, while each "service" had its own price.

Detectives discovered that the acting deputy mayor of Odesa - the chief of staff of the executive committee of the Odesa City Council and a member of the land commission - received a monthly "salary" of over USD 15,000 from the organizers. He had to ensure the adoption of necessary decisions by the land commission or to influence the deputies to vote in the interests of the criminal organization. From November 2021 to August 2022, the official received more than UAH 2.4 million in undue benefits.

Other accomplices - the first deputy and deputy mayor of Odesa - received from March to July 2022 UAH 900,000 and UAH 300,000, respectively. The first deputy mayor was in charge of the development sphere and voted as part of the executive committee for decisions on waste management tariffs, changes to the budget, and other issues in the interests of the criminal organization. The deputy mayor of Odesa informed the organizers about the allocated budget funds, which allowed them to calculate kickbacks from future contractors.

The members of the criminal organization resorted to various conspiracy measures: used noise-absorbing devices and special rooms for negotiations and had their own "security service" consisting of former law enforcement officers.

So far, six persons are suspected of participation in the criminal organization: two organizers, their trusted person, and three deputy mayors. The investigation is ongoing.

UAH 2.4 mln illegally received by an Odesa deputy mayor

"PRIVATBANK" CASE: A NEW EPISODE

The PrivatBank case is a multi-episode and one of the largest investigations in the history of NABU and SAPO. It involves a significant number of investigative actions: more than 100 interrogations and 25 forensic examinations (economic, computer-technical, handwriting, and physicochemical). All this data is kept in a case file of 223 volumes. The investigation of three episodes has been completed so far. The total amount of losses exceeds UAH 8.5 billion, while the laundering of more than UAH 103 million has been proven. The revealed facts of corruption are not exhaustive, the investigation continues in a number of other episodes that involve schemes to withdraw over UAH 130 billion from the bank, which became one of the reasons for its nationalization.

During this half-year, detectives discovered new facts in the case. According to the investigation, the former PrivatBank chair, his first deputy, and the head of a bank’s department spent UAH 85.2 million for the benefit of a related company. In July 2022, they were notified of suspicion, and in October of the same year, the investigation was completed.

As established, in December 2016, the day before PrivatBank was declared insolvent, the suspects, using false documents, transferred UAH 85.2 million and UAH 136.8 million to the companies controlled by PrivatBank. The losses in the two episodes alone make about UAH 223 million.

NABU and SAPO's international partners also joined the investigation. They contributed to high-quality and timely investigative actions abroad. In particular, these are law enforcement officers of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Singapore, the Swiss Confederation, the Republic of Serbia, and the Republic of Cyprus, who selflessly approached the work and immersed themselves in the case.

UAH 8.5 bn lost by PrivatBank

MP'S STATE TREASON AND ILLEGAL ENRICHMENT

During 2019-2022, an MP of the III-IX convocations received USD 567,000 from law enforcement and intelligence agencies of the russian federation for subversive activities against Ukraine. He carried out various tasks and instructions aimed at discrediting Ukraine's international image and worsening diplomatic relations with the United States and complicating Ukraine's integration into the European Union and NATO. At one time, he even tried to discredit NABU by publishing "documents" of dubious origin about the alleged influence of the US Embassy on the activities of the National Bureau.

However, this did not save him from prosecution: in September 2022, the MP was notified of suspicion of treason and illegal enrichment. As his whereabouts were unknown, NABU declared him internationally wanted. Detectives began collecting data and forwarded three requests for international legal assistance to the United States, Israel, and Great Britain.

The investigation of the case is carried out by NABU and SAPO under the support of the SSU counterintelligence. During one of the searches, law enforcement officers detained the head of the MP's personal security service. He kept several hand grenades and cartridges for rifled firearms without a corresponding permit. The stuff was confiscated.

During a series of searches in the premises of the MP, detectives discovered materials that testified to his long-term subversive activities and constant connections with representatives of the aggressor state and collaborators. UAH 200,000, EUR 49,000, and USD 11,500 was found and seized as well.

After the lawmaker was exposed, his powers were prematurely terminated, while the President of Ukraine stripped him of Ukrainian citizenship. This will not affect the proceedings: detectives will complete the investigation, and SAPO will make an appropriate procedural decision.

USD 567,000 illegally received by an MP

CORRUPTION AT ODESA PORT PLANT

In March 2020, NABU and SAPO exposed a corruption scheme that caused UAH 93.3 million losses to JSC "Odesa Port Plant" (99.57% of the shares belong to the state) during March-December 2015.

The investigation considers an MP of the VIII convocation to be the organizer of the scheme. It presupposed the sale of the plant's mineral fertilizers to a predetermined company at prices lower than the market average. The company then resold the goods to foreign consumers at competitive prices. However, the physical supply of mineral fertilizers to these companies was carried out by Odesa Port Plant.

At that moment, detectives served charges on four accomplices of the crime: a lawmaker's confidant, the OPP's deputy director, the head of an OPP's unit, and the owner of the company involved in the scheme. The officials were detained, while the owner of the company and the MP's confidant were declared wanted.

In October 2022, the organizer of the scheme was notified of suspicion. Since he left the country in 2019, he was served with charges in absentia. In 2021, in order to prevent himself from being served with charges, the MP had his housing registration annulled, while all the relatives who lived with him left Ukraine.

On Dec. 7, 2022, the court arrested the organizer of the scheme in absentia. As of the end of the year, the defense's appeal was pending. The suspect's lawyers resort to a variety of tricks to delay the proceedings in court: from failure to appear at the hearing to systematic objections to investigating judges.

The case in question concerns not only Ukraine. In order to recreate all aspects of the corruption scheme, the National Bureau sent about 10 requests for international legal assistance to competent authorities in Europe, Asia, and North America.

UAH 93.3 mln lost by Odesa Port Plant

EMBEZZLEMENT OF UKRGASBANK FUNDS

Over five years, the state-owned Ukrgasbank lost more than UAH 200 million through the actions of a criminal group, consisting of its board chair and his subordinates. They involved a pool of companies, entrepreneurs, self-employed persons, and legal entities, who systematically received payments from the bank for alleged customer engagement services. In fact, no services were provided, while clients placed funds in deposit and current accounts on their own initiative or in accordance with the government procedure introduced for the public sector.

This mechanism of attracting funds existed in no other state bank in Ukraine. After a while, it was discontinued at Ukrgasbank itself. Detectives discovered the bank made more than a thousand transfers to 52 pseudo-intermediaries, who were a strange medley of persons: a seller of beer, a primary school teacher from Zhytomyr, a pensioner born in 1937. While the "intermediaries" played just a nominal role, all transactions, including administrative and cashing operations, were carried out by bank employees.

In order for the scheme to work, its organizer changed the bank's internal documents, abused his powers, approved terms of cooperation with “intermediaries”, and controlled payments.

The members of the criminal group were notified of suspicion in early October. Three of them, including the ex-board chair, were charged in absentia because their whereabouts were unknown. The ex-board chair left Ukraine for a business trip just before the notification. Since then, the suspects have ignored all summons from NABU and got on the wanted list. The scheme organizer was soon spotted in Vienna together with another suspect in NABU and SAPO's case.

UAH 206 mln withdrawn from Ukrgasbank

VAT REFUND BRIBERY CASE

The ex-head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine has repeatedly become a protagonist of NABU and SAPO's cases. In October 2022, he and his accomplice were charged with accepting USD 5.5 million and more than EUR 21 million for ensuring VAT refunds to agricultural holding companies. Then, at the NBU rate, the amount exceeded UAH 722 million. The pretrial investigation of the case is ongoing. Gathering the evidence base required intensive communication with the competent authorities of other countries, which NABU detectives continue.

The participants of the scheme took conspiracy measures. In order to receive funds to the accounts of three non-resident companies under the control of the SFS head and his accomplice, five other companies were involved, whose nominal directors had nothing to do with their actual operation.

The SFS official received an undue benefit and in exchange secured a VAT refund worth more than half a billion hryvnias to agro-holding companies. His "fee for services" made on average about 20 percent of the amount of refunded VAT.

Detectives conducted a considerable number of investigative actions, including the examination of VAT refund database and information containing bank secrecy on more than 30 Ukrainian companies. After analyzing the movement of funds received from the State Budget of Ukraine as VAT refunds, 12 requests for international assistance were sent alternately, 10 of which have been accomplished and two more are in progress.

UAH 722 mln of improper adnvantage

"UKRNAFTA" CASE

In 2015, a number of LLCs were recognized as winners at oil auctions. PJSC "Ukrnafta" concluded sales contracts with them and supplied raw materials worth UAH 10.7 billion. This was illegal because the company could not carry out any supplies without full payment. The same year, Ukrnafta concluded 52 more contracts for the purchase of oil products with another LLC and paid in advance their entire cost of more than UAH 2.57 billion. Alas, Ukrnafta never received the purchased oil products, while the funds it paid were transferred abroad to the accounts of several offshore companies. The total amount of property and funds embezzled in two episodes exceeds UAH 13.3 billion.

Those involved in the crime could have been served with charges three years ago, but it happened only after SAPO got its new head last summer.

The "Ukrnafta" case is one of NABU's largest (over 500 volumes) and most complex investigations. In order to bring eight perpetrators to justice, it was necessary to conduct more than 100 searches, interrogate almost 500 people, and examine the accounts of more than 200 companies. There was opposition from expert institutions, courts, and even the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. The suspects left Ukraine after learning that NABU and SAPO were delving into the matter. Staying abroad, they continued to impede the investigation: repeatedly submitted complaints to other law enforcement agencies, charging the detectives with "offenses" (in the end, all such proceedings were closed). Following a motion by Ukrnafta lawyers, the Solomianskyi District Court of Kyiv removed two detectives from the investigation. Later, the Supreme Council of Justice dismissed one of the judges who made the decision for committing a significant disciplinary offense in another NABU and SAPO’s case.

However, NABU not only brought the culprits to justice but also helped return part of the embezzled funds to Ukrnafta: 60 contracts worth almost UAH 3 billion were annulled by the court's decision. More than UAH 3.5 billion was reimbursed in the form of the funds received as debt repayment.

UAH 13.3 bn embezzled from Ukrnafta

CORRUPTION AT ARMA

In July 2022, NABU and SAPO discovered the facts of corruption at the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) and served charges on five persons. At the end of the year, the investigation found that an organized criminal group was behind the scheme involving the sale of seized assets. The circle of participants in the crime expanded to 11 persons, and its organizer was identified. The actions of the criminal group caused UAH 485 million losses to the state.

The scheme was active throughout 2019 and involved the sale of seized assets to predetermined companies at reduced prices. The sale was carried out through the relevant public enterprise "SETAM", which came under ARMA’s control in 2019. In order for everything to work smoothly, the head of ARMA lobbied for the adoption of a necessary government resolution. He also refused to have a single deputy, so that no one interfered with the scheme.

The investigation established that the group managed to implement the scheme four times. On one occasion, three land plots in the Odesa region were sold almost for nothing. They were categorized as perishable property in order to announce the auction as soon as possible. Another example involves 2.6 thousand tons of sand and more than 4.5 thousand tons of urea, which were sold up to six times cheaper than the market average. The same concerned grain, cereals, and oil crops, which were sold up to four times cheaper than the market average.

The group members used jargon to hide their criminal activity. For instance, "shashlik" stood for a lot put for sale at an undervalued price. What's more, the suspected SETAM officer was called "shashlik cooker", since he was the one who placed the lots.

The group organizer changed his mobile number and concealed his connection with other members so that NABU and SAPO could not track him down. However, this did not help, and detectives obtained sufficient evidence to prosecute him. The investigation is ongoing, NABU and SAPO are identifying other possible participants in the crime.

UAH 485 mln lost over a seized property scheme

NABU, SAPO, and the HACC showed effective cooperation, which resulted in extra financing of the military, sentences with confiscation for corruption, and the recovery of funds to public enterprises

In 2022, the economic effect brought by NABU and SAPO's work exceeds UAH 3.38 billion, including UAH 1.9 billion reached in the second half of the year.

Anti-corruption agencies had taken efforts to find funds to strengthen the country's defense capabilities. Thanks to their active work during July-December, the state additionally received more than UAH 609 million for the needs of the military, and in general, since the beginning of russia's large-scale aggression, almost UAH 1.2 billion. These are assets seized within NABU and SAPO's criminal proceedings, pledges, equipment, motor vehicles, and components.

Compared to the previous reporting period, the recovery of funds to enterprises with a state share of over 50% increased by more than one and a half times. Over UAH 695 million was returned to the PJSC "Ukrnafta" (50%+1 share belongs to the state), and more than UAH 547 million was received by Ukrenergo for electricity supplied to business entities, but not paid for. In both cases, the compensation took place at the stage of pretrial investigation.

Thanks to NABU's files, in the second half of the year, the SE "Ukrtelefilm" recovered the assets in Kyiv illegally taken from it: an apartment (125.5 sq.m.) and office space (178.1 sq.m.) worth more than UAH 6 million. Before that, the state enterprise regained possession of five houses. All this became possible after the court invalidated the sales contract between Ukrtelefilm and a commercial company. This corruption scheme was investigated within NABU and SAPO's case, which is currently being heard by the HACC.

During the second half of the year, a number of convictions with confiscation of assets also entered into force. They are cash and real estate worth more than UAH 3.8 million. In addition, thanks to NABU and SAPO, at the end of December, the court ruled to confiscate part of the property and funds seized in the "Mezhyhiria" case. This confiscation mechanism became possible thanks to the Law of Ukraine "On Sanctions", which applies only during martial law to persons who significantly contributed to armed aggression against Ukraine.

Damages recovered in NABU and SAPO's cases

(both at the pretrial and trial stages)

₴5,795
billion

As of
31.12.2022

₴2
billion

Of them
in 2022

₴1,25
billion

incl. In the II half
of 2022

ECONOMIC EFFECT

OF NABU, SAPO WORK IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2022, UAH THSD

Assets transferred for the needs of the military
(as of 31.12.2022)

416.94 UAH million

10.28 USD million

855.940 EUR

20.000 GBP

5.5 million USD certificates of deposit

122.95 troy ounces of gold

4 vehicles

2 semi-trailers

22.000+ pieces of computer and other equipment



"Mezhyhiria" case: confiscated property and funds*

1 recreation and health center

1 hotel and restaurant complex

2 underground parking lots and 1 car

2 houses and 1 apartment

1 vessel

100% share in the authorized capital of two companies

31 UAH million

84.9 USD thousand

537 historical, cultural and material values worth EUR over 18.7 million

* following the HACC decision of 12.12.2022 regarding the satisfaction of the recovery claim of the Ministry of Justice

MP'S ATTEMPTED BRIBERY OF POLICE OFFICERS

The investigation established that a lawmaker who got in a car accident tried to bribe patrol police officers to be allowed to leave the scene. The MP was hurrying to attend a solemn meeting in the parliament on the occasion of Independence Day. The incident went public only half a year later, in February 2022, when journalists of Ukrainska Pravda released a video of the events. In this video, a person resembling the MP offers 150,000 to a police officer and says: "Let me quietly go into the forest."

Given the public outcry, the Prosecutor General opened the case and ordered NABU to investigate it. The investigation began in February 2022, but in a few weeks, the detectives joined their compatriots to push the aggressor back from Kyiv. As soon as the mission was accomplished, NABU and SAPO got back to work and obtained temporary access to the files of the National Police. By a strange coincidence, a few hours before the investigative actions the server was formatted. Although the videos from the police officers’ body cameras were deleted, NABU gathered enough other evidence to prosecute the lawmaker.

In the course of the investigation, the detectives faced interference with their work. The State Bureau of Investigation is conducting a probe into this fact.

Under prosecution: 1 accused person

  • the MP of the IX convocation - Part 1 Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine

ACCEPTANCE OF UNDUE ADVANTAGE BY RADA'S FEC COMMITTEE EX-CHAIR

Paying for education, recreation, housing rental abroad, and other family needs — this is what a former lawmaker exposed this half-year spent his ill-gotten gains on. We are talking about the former head of the Verkhovna Rada Fuel and Energy Complex Committee. He has already been on trial for organizing a corruption scheme to embezzle EUR 6.4 million and USD 17.2 million from two public enterprises: SkhidGZK and Energoatom.

While the ex-MP and the defense are sabotaging the court process, NABU and SAPO have exposed a new episode of his criminal activities. Namely, accepting a EUR 311.6 bribe from the Czech company SKODA JS a.s. to promote the company's interests in Ukraine by abusing his official position and power.

The undue advantage was transferred under the pretext of payment for agency services under the cooperation agreement concluded between SKODA JS a.s. and a Cypriot company affiliated with the MP. Further on, the money was laundered through a series of transactions involving a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. Shortly after, the funds ended up in the account of a company also registered in Cyprus and owned by the lawmaker.

During a search of the ex-MP's residence, detectives found USD 785,000 and UAH 650,000 hryvnias, which was later seized by the HACC, which then ordered to transfer the money for the needs of the Armed Forces.

Thanks to international cooperation with the competent authorities of the Czech Republic and Cyprus, NABU and SAPO collected enough evidence to notify the ex-MP of suspicion.

As for the employees of SKODA JS a.s., the law enforcement authorities of the Czech Republic took all necessary measures given the facts provided by NABU and brought charges against six employees of the company (the criminal case is being heard in court).

Under prosecution: 1 suspect

  • the ex-chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety - Part 4 Art. 368 and Part 2 Art. 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine

LVIV STATE BORDER GUARD SERVICE HOUSING SCHEME

The problem around the shortage of service housing for the military is not new. The government is trying to solve it by agreeing to allocate plots for construction, belonging to the Ministry of Defence. Thus, private developers build blocks of flats on these lands and provide a fixed number of apartments to the ministry and subordinate agencies.

In 2019, a private company had to provide 66 apartments in a residential complex in downtown Lviv for border guards and their families. Instead, the State Border Guard Service received 53 apartments on the outskirts of Lviv and the promised housing, despite the contract concluded with the SBGS, was sold to third-party buyers.

It is unlikely that this scheme could be implemented without the consent of the SBGS management. The investigation proved this. NABU detectives established that the then head of the State Border Guard Service got a parking space in one of residential complexes in Kyiv with a 50% discount. The investigation has evidence that SBGS officials acted in collusion with the director of a private company and saw all negative consequences from the start.

The ex-SBGS head, the head of the first separate capital construction department of the SBGS, and the director of a private development company became suspects in October 2022, while the investigation was completed two months later.

According to the results of expert examination, the damages to the state caused by the crime made UAH 10.68 million.

Under prosecution: 3 suspects

  • the ex-head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine - Part 2 Art. 364, Part 4 Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
  • the head of the first separate capital construction department of the SBGS - Part 2 Art. 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
  • the director of a private development company - Part 2 Art. 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine

EMBEZZLEMENT OF USD 398,000 FROM ARMA

The investigation established that during August-December 2020, officials of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), in collusion with two lawyers and an individual, took possession of USD 398,000. These are funds seized in criminal proceedings and transferred under ARMA's management.

To implement the plan, the perpetrators in the scheme used a forged court decision on the alleged cancellation of the funds' seizure and illegally transferred them to the bank account of an individual who had nothing to do with the money. Then the amount was distributed among the participants in the scheme.

They were exposed and detained on July 27, 2021. All six were notified of suspicion. The court seized the apartments, land plots, cars and other property of the suspects worth UAH 18.5 million. NABU detectives began investigating the case in August 2021 after it was transferred from the State Bureau of Investigation. The investigation was completed in July 2022, and the case file was disclosed to the defense for perusal.

Under prosecution: 6 suspects*

  • the acting head of ARMA and his deputy - Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
  • the head of the Asset Management Department of ARMA - Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
  • two lawyers - Part 3 Art. 27, Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
  • an individual - Part 5 Art. 27, Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

*positions at the moment of the crime

MARAZLI'S DACHA AND FABRYTSKY'S ESTATE

An attempt to destroy the architectural monuments known as Marazli's Dacha and Fabrytsky's Estate provoked the birth of a public initiative that united Odesans. People went to rallies and organized protests, renovated the territory of the estates by their own efforts and turned them into places for exhibitions and cultural gatherings.

This half year, NABU and SAPO completed the investigation of the head of the Department for Property Relations of the Odesa Regional Council, suspected of abuse of power, which caused losses of more than UAH 75 million.

He implemented the scheme through which famous historical sights in Odesa were leased for 10 years to a private company. Then he ensured the inclusion of these objects in the list of those subject to privatization.

The buildings were transferred to the lessee company at almost half the market value. It also received the right to use 1.2 hectares of land, which was not legally registered at the time of the sale. The examination established that the lease of this plot should have cost more than UAH 56 million, of which the local community did not receive a penny.

In order to preserve the architectural monuments and protect them from destruction, NABU detectives initiated the seizure of the objects and land. The High Anti-Corruption Court granted the motion. Meanwhile, SAPO filed a lawsuit to declare the sales contract invalid, which is pending court's decision.

Under prosecution: 1 suspect

  • the head of the Department for Property Relations of the Odesa Regional Council - Part 2 Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine

BRIBERY OF DNIPRO MAYOR

NABU and SAPO exposed the ex-MP and top official of Ukrbud development corporation who offered a record EUR 22 million undue advantage to the mayor of Dnipro. In exchange, he wanted that his company received a contract for the construction of the metro in Dnipro with companies under his control and beyond tender. He promised to give the money in tranches until the end of the project in 2027. The mayor's "loyalty" was estimated at 10 percent of the cost of the project, financed with a loan granted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The offer did not tempt the mayor. He reported to NABU, and the ex-MP was detained while handing over the so-called "poniatiika" - a kind of "agreement on a napkin" between the crime participants.

Interestingly, the ex-MP is already accused in the National Guard housing scheme case investigated by NABU and SAPO. Back in the early 2000s, his development company obtained a 1 ha land plot in downtown Kyiv from the Interior Ministry. In exchange, the company had to provide apartments and parking spaces in a newly built complex for the National Guard officers. However, an additional contract was signed later, according to which the military received 70 apartments in another complex on the outskirts of Kyiv. The ex-MP was put in a pretrial detention center and after quite a long time there, voluntarily reimbursed UAH 50 million out of more than UAH 81 million lost because of his actions.

At the stage of reviewing the case file, one of the lawyers acted in such a professional and desperate manner that he ate six sheets of a document from the case file. This fact was recorded, while the case is already being heard in court.

05.09.2022

pretrial investigation
launched

09.12.2022

investigation
completed

Under prosecution:

  • the MP of the VIII convocation - Part 4 Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine

"ROTTERDAM PLUS" CASE

According to the investigation, in 2016, a group of private heat-generating companies persuaded the leadership of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) to adopt the so-called "Rotterdam Plus" formula for calculating electricity prices for consumers. The goal was to receive an unjustified income. Expenses that did not exist were included in the formula, namely, the cost of coal shipment from the port in Rotterdam. At the same time, the lion's share of coal was mined in Ukraine and did not require any shipment from abroad. Because of the introduction of the formula in 2016-2019, electricity consumers overpaid over UAH 39 billion, of which UAH 22.4 billion went to formula’s initiators. Such calculations, in particular, are confirmed by an expert conclusion.

Initially, the NEURC refused to approve the formula, because the absurdity of including transportation costs in the tariff was apparent. However, in December 2015, it accepted the proposal. This led to an increase in electricity tariffs for industry and entrepreneurs, which, accordingly, caused an increase in the prices of goods and services for the population.

The "Rotterdam Plus" case consists of two episodes: the first involves the application of the formula in the period from 2016 to 2017, the second - from 2018 to 2019. The investigation of both episodes has been completed, and the defense is reviewing the case file.

24.03.2017

pretrial investigation
launched

08.08.2019

suspicion notice served
on 6 persons (I episode)

22.09.2022

investigation completed
(I episode)

Under prosecution: 15 suspects

  • 2 former heads of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC);
  • 6 former NEURC members;
  • 2 active NEURC members;
  • 1 active and 2 former NEURC employee;
  • 2 active officials of a group of private heat-generating companies.

Six of the persons, who knowingly participated in the crime, are suspected under Part 2 Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The actions of NEURC members, who, without understanding, voted for the application of the "Rotterdam Plus" formula, fall under Part 2 Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.