Son of former MP suspected of collaboration: what is known

11 February 2025 12:59

The National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine have announced that the son of a former MP and former deputy head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration has been served with a notice of suspicion of collaboration. He is accused of doing business in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region, cooperating with the occupation administration and paying taxes to the budget of the Russian Federation. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the National Police of Ukraine.

Law enforcement agencies do not name the MP, but his description points to Mykola Hapochka: MP of the IV convocation (2002-2006), former first deputy head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration (1998-2001), owns agricultural enterprises in the temporarily occupied territory of the former Bilokurakyno district (now Svativsky district).

During the searches, law enforcement officers seized cash in various currencies worth more than UAH 33,000,000, as well as draft versions of powers of attorney to represent interests in the temporarily occupied territories.

How the business operated in the occupied territory

The investigation established that the suspect, together with his father, a People’s Deputy of the IV convocation who previously served as the First Deputy Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration, and his brother owned agricultural enterprises in the Bilokurakyno district of Luhansk region.

After the beginning of the occupation, they re-registered the companies in accordance with Russian law. The official owners were close associates who remained in the occupied territory and received Russian passports.

According to investigators, in 2022, the suspects’ companies were re-registered under the laws of the aggressor country, continuing to grow and sell agricultural products.

“The controlled companies not only pay taxes to the budget of the Russian Federation, but also receive financial assistance under government programs – subsidies from the Ministry of Finance of the LPR and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the LPR. At the same time, in 2023-2024, these companies paid almost 8 million rubles in taxes to the budget of the aggressor state, which finances the war in Ukraine,” the National Police said.

Evidence of cooperation with the occupiers

As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers searched the homes of the persons involved in the crime. As a result, they seized

more than $690,000,
87,000 euros,
almost 960,000 hryvnias,
draft records,
powers of attorney issued by the defendants to represent their interests in the occupied areas and Russia,
cars.

What punishment does the suspect face?

The son of the former MP was served a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – collaboration committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy. The issue of a measure of restraint is currently being decided.

The sanction of the article provides for

up to five years in prison,
deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities for a period of 10 to 15 years,
confiscation of property.

Investigative actions are ongoing, and law enforcement officers continue to collect evidence of financing the occupation regime and cooperation with the aggressor country.