Judge Denies Deal Involving Donations from MP Kachnyi
Judge Teslenko of Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court declined to approve an agreement between the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and Opposition Platform — For Life (OPZZh) lawmaker Oleksandr Kachnyi. The proposed arrangement would have seen Kachnyi transfer 3 million hryvnias to the 'Come Back Alive' fund and pay 13 million hryvnias to the national budget. This ruling could significantly impact how future agreements involving donations to support Ukraine’s Armed Forces are handled.
The judge’s refusal was based on concerns that the voluntary contribution did not align with public interest and fell outside the oversight capabilities of both the parties involved and the court itself. Activist Serhiy Sternenko reacted to the decision, stating:
“The court argued that later it would be impossible to track where the funds actually went.” – Serhiy Sternenko
He further emphasized that this was not compensation for damages but a donation that the accused had agreed to send to the military. Sternenko noted that Kachnyi suffers from a serious illness and warned that without the agreement, it is highly unlikely he will be held accountable or make any payments at all.
Background on Oleksandr Kachnyi and Political Context
Oleksandr Kachnyi, a member of parliament representing the banned OPZZh party, was exposed by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) for illicit enrichment amounting to 13 million hryvnias. In parliament, five OPZZh deputies, including Serhiy Larin, Serhiy Lyovochkin, Ihor Kisilov, and Oleksandr Puzanov, frequently vote alongside the ruling party on early-stage legislation. Overall, 43 deputies from OPZZh and the 'Restoration of Ukraine' group tend to support government proposals, with 30 members increasing those voting rates by over 50%.
Sternenko also warned that Judge Teslenko’s ruling might set a precedent blocking all future donation agreements aimed at supporting the military. He remarked:
“So why did Judge Teslenko act this way? To create a precedent and halt all future donation agreements for the army. Currently, politicians like Hetmanets and Buzhansky are pushing this agenda hard.” – Serhiy Sternenko
This court decision raises concerns among activists and experts because it could complicate the financing of Ukraine’s military through donations. In the context of ongoing conflict and economic challenges, ensuring accountability and effective management of contributions to the Armed Forces is critically important for the country’s defense capabilities. Monitoring the progression of similar cases will be essential, as they may have far-reaching consequences for how resources are mobilized to support Ukraine’s military efforts.