Bribes for voting in the Rada: a group of MPs are suspected
29 December 22:10
The NABU and the SAPO served notices of suspicion to members of an organized criminal group that operated in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and ensured that MPs received bribes for the “right” vote. The suspects include 5 members of the Ukrainian Parliament. This was reported by the NABU, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
The scheme has been operating since 2021
As part of the pre-trial investigation, the facts of the possible creation and operation of an organized group since 2021, the purpose of which was to systematically receive bribes for the adoption or non-adoption of certain bills and resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada, are being checked.
According to the investigation, the group members had clearly defined roles. Some deputies performed coordination functions – they controlled the actions of other participants, provided information on legislative initiatives that had to be supported or rejected during the vote, and were responsible for receiving and distributing illegal benefits.
The group consisted of current members of the Ukrainian Parliament and officials of the Verkhovna Rada’s staff. The group’s activities were coordinated by one of the MPs.
The other members of the organized group were obliged to comply with the so-called executive discipline – to be present in the session hall and vote in accordance with the organizers’ instructions, supporting or blocking the necessary decisions.
To organize the voting, the group members sent instructions with the numbers of the bills in a specially created WhatsApp group. After the voting, individual MPs were systematically transferred money.
“It should be noted that the amount of the undue advantage was determined by the ‘voting efficiency indicator’, which depended on the number of draft resolutions and laws supported by each particular MP, as well as their presence at plenary sessions. The amount of the illegal benefit ranged from USD 2,000 to USD 20,000,” the SAPO said.
At the same time, at least from September 2022 to November 2022, the amount of undue advantage was USD 2,000, and at least from August 2025 – already USD 5,000
The SAPO added that the funds were distributed, as a rule, every Thursday at the beginning of the next month based on the results of the tasks.
“Based on the results of the investigative and covert investigative (detective) actions, it was recorded that from November to December of this year, a member of the said organized group – a member of the Ukrainian Parliament – received an unlawful benefit in the amount of at least USD 145,000 with the provision of its further distribution among other members of the Ukrainian Parliament. As of today, all suspected MPs have been served with motions for the application of preventive measures,” the SAPO said.
Among the suspects are 5 MPs of Ukraine, they are charged with Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (bribery in a particularly large amount, or by an official holding a particularly responsible position, committed in an organized group).
All were served with motions to impose pre-trial restraints.
According to Ukrayinska Pravda‘s sources, MPs from the Servant of the People party Yevhen Pyvovarov, Ihor Negulevskyi, Olha Savchenko and Yuriy Kisel were served with suspicion notices as part of the investigation into the organized criminal group. Other suspicions are possible. According to sources, Yuriy Koryavchenkov (Yuzik) allegedly left Ukraine, but the faction denies this.
In response to numerous media inquiries, the NABU and the SAPO reported that they are not currently conducting any searches at the home of MP Yuriy Koryavchenkov, known as “Yuzik” from Kvartal.
NABU searches in the Rada
on December 27, the NABU and the SAPO announced the exposure of an organized criminal group that included current members of the Ukrainian parliament. The operation was conducted undercover.
The SAPO noted that the group operated on a regular basis, and the investigation established the facts of regular receipt of undue benefits for voting in the Verkhovna Rada.
Later, the NABU claimed that detectives were obstructed by employees of the State Protection Department during investigative actions in parliamentary committees. In response, the UDO assured that they acted in accordance with the law, checking people and vehicles at the entrances to the government quarter.
The UDO clarified that during one of the checks, the persons whom NABU detectives had engaged as witnesses were examined, after which they were allowed to travel.
