The SSU, together with the NABU and the SAPO, have exposed the deputy head of Rivne Regional Council on a bribe of over half a million UAH. For this amount, the official was supposed to ‘solve’ land and property issues of a local businessman.

According to the investigation, an entrepreneur from Rivne oblast purchased a non-operating children’s sanatorium, which was in communal ownership, at an electronic auction in 2021.

The deputy head of the council, having learned that the buyer also wanted to take ownership of the facility’s material assets and land, promised to help. He was going to write off the property and ensure that the members of Regional Council passed a decision to sell the 5.4-hectare plot.

For this ‘assistance’, the official received a bribe from the businessman of almost UAH 600,000 (USD 15,000).

The deputy head has been served a notice of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 369-2.3 (trading in influence);
• 368.4 (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official).

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Rivne region jointly with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau under the procedural supervision of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in line with the procedure defined by law and established by a relevant court verdict.