Judgment Issued by Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court
On September 11, 2026, Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court delivered a verdict against a member of parliament from the ninth convocation, convicting him of bribery charges. The court imposed a nine-year prison sentence, ordered the confiscation of his assets, and banned him from holding public office for three years. The investigation into the case began in 2020, targeting both the lawmaker and his intermediary.
The deputy was found guilty under Part 4 of Article 368 and Part 2 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. However, the court exempted him from punishment under Part 2 of Article 369-2 due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. The charges were reclassified from Part 4 of Article 27 and Part 4 of Article 369 to Part 2 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code.
Sentence Details and Corruption Allegations
The sentence includes a nine-year imprisonment term, a three-year prohibition on occupying government or local authority positions, and the confiscation of property. The bail condition of over 3 million hryvnias remains unchanged. This ruling will become final after 30 days unless appealed.
According to case files, the lawmaker, through his intermediary, solicited $13,000 in illicit payments for submitting amendments to the draft law "On Waste Management." Additionally, he demanded $200,000 to bribe committee members to vote in favor of his proposals. The initial installment was transferred in August 2020, while the second payment scheduled for August 26-27, 2020, was halted.
The intermediary was formally charged on September 10, 2020, followed by the lawmaker on September 17, 2020. The indictment was submitted to court in August 2021. Per Article 62 of the Ukrainian Constitution, an individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court ruling.
This verdict marks a significant advancement in Ukraine's fight against corruption, highlighting the judiciary's commitment to holding public officials accountable for corrupt activities.
Ongoing investigations into bribery and vote-buying cases send a clear message to public servants that abuse of power will face consequences. Furthermore, this judgment may strengthen public trust in Ukraine's governmental institutions.
As the fight against corruption intensifies, the recent conviction of the former lawmaker sheds light on the broader issue of integrity in public office. In a related case, four local council deputies are facing trial for submitting false declarations, highlighting the ongoing challenges that Ukraine encounters in ensuring accountability among its elected officials. To learn more about this significant development, visit the upcoming trial of local deputies.