False Testimony to NABU Detectives: A Case of Perjury and Fraud
On May 19, 2026, a prosecutor from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) submitted an indictment to the court against a city council member from the Lviv region. The official is accused of deliberately giving false statements to detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), submitting inaccurate information in a declaration, and using a forged document.
Investigators found that the council member lied during an interrogation about a loan agreement. This agreement was supposedly meant to confirm the legal income of a person authorized to perform state functions. The probe revealed that the loan document was artificially created, and the council member entered knowingly false data into their declarations for 2024–2015, specifically concerning a loan provided to a third party. Additionally, the official used a knowingly counterfeit document in their affairs.
Legal Charges and Potential Consequences for the Official
Among other findings, the council member filed a lawsuit to recover a non-existent debt based on the fictitious contract. The charges against the official include:
- Part 2 of Article 384
- Part 4 of Article 358
- Part 2 of Article 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
Separately, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) is reviewing a criminal case against this state-authorized individual for illicit enrichment.
Under Article 62, Part 1 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven through legal procedures and established by a court's guilty verdict.
This case highlights Ukraine's ongoing efforts to combat corruption, especially among public officials. As public demand for transparency and accountability grows, the outcome of this trial could significantly shape the reputation of anti-corruption agencies and public trust in the government. It also underscores a potential precedent for similar cases, signaling an intensification of anti-corruption activities across the country.
In light of the ongoing investigations into corruption among public officials, the recent case of a Ukrainian MP facing the seizure of three luxury vehicles valued at 7.2 million hryvnias underscores the urgent need for accountability in governance. Such incidents not only reflect the systemic issues within the political landscape but also serve as a reminder of the importance of transparency. For more details on this significant development, see the full report on the confiscation of luxury vehicles.