In Kharkiv region, the SBU exposed officials of one of the territorial election committees on embezzling. During the 2020 elections, they ordered the printing of ballots at unreasonably high price. The illegal activity caused UAH 0.5 m (USD 18,500) budget losses.

The chief accountant of the election committee ordered the production of ballots at three times higher than market prices. To implement the scheme, he conspired with the head of a local company and a local entrepreneur.

According to the experts, the state budget suffered almost UAH 0.5 m. losses.

During the searches of the suspects’ residences and offices, the law enforcement seized:

• documents proving the illegal transactions;
• approximately 300 grams of gold in bank gold bars;
• cash in national and foreign currencies totaling over UAH 1 m. (USD 37,000).

The head of the company and the entrepreneur were served a notice of suspicion of misappropriation, embezzlement and conversion of property by malversation. The chief accountant is to face the same charges.

The SBU is checking other territorial election committees, which had contracts with the said businessmen.

The operation was carried out together with the National Police investigators under the supervision of the Chuhuiv District Prosecutor's Office of the Kharkiv Region.