Former Odessa Regional Council Deputy Admits Guilt in Illegal Enrichment and Will Pay 13 Million UAH to Budget and Army
A former deputy of the Odessa Regional Council has admitted his guilt in acquiring assets that significantly exceed his income and has committed to pay 13 million UAH to the state budget and to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was announced by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP).
The former deputy of the Odessa Regional Council has admitted his guilt in acquiring assets that significantly exceed his income and has committed to pay 13 million UAH to the state budget and to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was announced by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), emphasizing that the plea agreement was approved by the High Anti-Corruption Court on April 9, 2026.
In its statement, SAP noted that the former deputy fully acknowledged his guilt in acquiring assets that significantly exceed his legal income even before receiving the suspicion and initiated the conclusion of a plea agreement. This demonstrates his willingness to cooperate with law enforcement and acknowledge his mistakes.
According to the prosecutor's information, the case involves real estate acquired in 2023-2024, including a residential house and structures located in a dacha construction cooperative in the Odessa region. The value of these assets exceeds the legal income of the regional council deputy by 11,021,837 UAH, which served as the basis for criminal prosecution.
The court found the former deputy guilty under part 1 of Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and imposed a sentence of 5 years of imprisonment with a prohibition on holding positions related to the performance of state or local self-government functions for a period of 2 years. This decision underscores the seriousness of the offense and the necessity of punishment for corrupt actions.
However, as noted in the announcement, the accused has been released from serving the main punishment based on part 2 of Article 75 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. He has been given a probationary period with obligations stipulated in paragraphs 1 and 2 of part 1 of Article 76 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, allowing him to avoid actual serving of the sentence provided he complies with the established conditions.
Within the framework of the agreement concluded between the prosecutor of SAP and the former deputy, the convicted individual is obliged to transfer 11 million UAH, which is equivalent to the subject of the offense, to the State Budget of Ukraine, as well as 2 million UAH to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, specifically to the charity fund 'Come Back Alive'. This decision highlights the importance of financial support for the army in the face of modern challenges the country is facing.
The court's verdict will take legal effect thirty days from the day of its announcement unless it is appealed in the appellate manner. This means that the former deputy has a limited time to file an appeal if he decides to contest the court's decision. The situation surrounding this case underscores the importance of combating corruption in Ukraine and the necessity for accountability of individuals who abuse their positions.