NABU, SAPO notify five MPs of suspicion over bribery for voting
That is according to NABU, Ukrinform reports.
"NABU and SAPO have notified members of an organized criminal group that operated in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and ensured that MPs received undue benefits for 'required' voting," the statement said.
According to the investigation, the group had a hierarchical structure with a clear division of roles.
The group included incumbent MPs and officials of the Verkhovna Rada's staff. Its activities were coordinated by one of the MPs.
To organize voting, members of the group sent instructions with bill numbers in a specially created WhatsApp messenger group.
After votes were held, certain MPs were systematically handed cash.
Five MPs have been named as suspects. Motions have been filed for all of them to impose preventive measures.
The suspicions have been classified under Part 3 of Article 28 and Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (commission of a criminal offense by a group of persons or by prior conspiracy; acceptance of an offer, promise, or receipt of undue benefit by an official).
According to SAPO, the investigation is examining evidence of the possible creation and operation, since 2021, of an organized group that included Ukrainian MPs and aimed at systematically obtaining undue benefits for the adoption or rejection of specific draft laws.
Under the allocated roles, some members of the organized group were responsible for controlling and coordinating other participants, informing them about draft laws and resolutions and about amendments that needed to be supported by voting "for" or, conversely, rejected by voting "against." In addition, tasks delegated by the group's organizer included receiving, distributing, and transferring undue benefits to MPs.
Other members of the group were required to maintain strict execution discipline, consistently support the instructed position by voting "for" or "against," and be present in the session hall on voting days.
In return for following all instructions, they received cash payments, which were provided either personally or through other members of the organized group.
SAPO noted that the amount of undue benefit was determined by a "voting effectiveness indicator," which depended on the number of draft resolutions and laws supported by each individual MP, as well as their attendance at plenary sessions.
The amount of undue benefit ranged from $2,000 to $20,000. In particular, from at least September to November 2022, the amount stood at $2,000, while from at least August 2025 it increased to $5,000.
As a rule, the distribution of undue benefits took place every Thursday at the beginning of the following month, based on how the members of the organized group had carried out the organizer's instructions during the previous month, whether given personally or through other group members.
As a result of investigative and covert investigative (search) actions, law enforcement documented that from November to December of the current year, a member of the organized group – an MP – received undue benefits totaling at least $145,000, with subsequent distribution among other MPs.
Photo: NABU
