Case Against NABU Detective Viktor Husarov Dismissed
Viktor Husarov, a detective with Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), will not face punishment after his case was closed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. He admitted guilt for a criminal offense under Part 3 of Article 362 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which covers unauthorized actions with information. Husarov had passed data from Ministry of Internal Affairs databases to a former colleague who had moved to the temporarily occupied Crimea. Although the prosecution did not drop the charges, the time limit for holding him accountable expired before the investigation wrapped up.
The suspect consented to being released from criminal liability because the statute of limitations had run out. This release does not count as a rehabilitative circumstance. According to prosecutor's office spokesperson Mariana Hayovska, the investigation confirmed that Husarov shared information about Ukrainian citizens obtained from the Interior Ministry's databases. Authorities also looked into whether his actions amounted to high treason, given that the recipient was a former law enforcement colleague who had relocated to the occupied Crimean peninsula in February 2014.
'This line of inquiry was formally assessed, but investigators found insufficient evidence of an intent to pass the information specifically to a representative of an aggressor state. As a result, the prosecutor made a legally prescribed decision to close that part of the proceedings.' Mariana Hayovska, Prosecutor's Office Spokesperson
Hayovska stressed that the case’s closure 'does not in any way refute the established fact of a criminal offense.'
Timeline and Broader Context of the Case
The alleged actions took place between 2012 and 2015. For context, on May 19 of this year, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) conducted searches in a corruption case involving the Supreme Court, which widened the circle of suspects to include the court's former chairman.
The dismissal of Husarov’s case highlights how statute of limitations rules can block accountability for crimes, raising concerns about the effectiveness of investigations and the judicial system in handling corruption and national security matters—especially when sensitive information is leaked amid ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
The closure of Viktor Husarov's case raises questions about accountability within NABU, especially in light of ongoing investigations into related corruption cases. Recently, NABU has expanded its focus, adding new suspects to a high-profile bribery investigation involving judges and businessman Zhevago. This development highlights the agency's persistent efforts to combat corruption amidst challenges. For further details on this evolving situation, see our article on new suspects in the bribery case.