The SBU exposed a deputy of the Sumy Regional Council on extortion of "sponsor support" for the election campaign.

According to the pre-investigation, the deputy, who is a member of a standing committee of the regional council, demanded USD 4,000 from a head of a municipal enterprise for allegedly earlier assistance in resolving an official issue. The deputy planned to use this money for electioneering. In case of refusal to finance him, the offender threatened the head of the enterprise with physical violence.

In accordance with Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine, SBU officers detained the deputy in Sumy city during receiving of the second part of bribe amounting to USD 3,000.

The investigation is ongoing upon the fact of extortion. The issue of serving a notice of suspicion to the detainee is being settled.

The operation was conducted jointly with the Main National Police Department in Sumy region under the procedural supervision of the Sumy Region Prosecutor's Office.