The SSU is fighting organized crime attempting to penetrate local governments. As a result of comprehensive measures in the city of Vinnytsia, a criminal group that terrorized residents and tried to control the agricultural business in the region was neutralized.

The detainees include a deputy of the Vinnytsia District Council, who was elected as a member of the banned OPZZh party, and two of his accomplices - employees of the Municipal Guard of the City Council.

All three were involved in racketeering led by a local criminal.

During a robbery, they extorted money from the victims as a regular ‘tribute’ and threatened them with violence and destruction of private and corporate property.

SSU officers documented the fact of extortion of USD 9,000 of false debt from a head of an agricultural company.

The racketeers threatened the man and his family with physical violence and the destruction of the company's agricultural equipment if he refused to pay the ‘debt’.

The SSU detained all the gang members in the regional center.

During the searches at the deputy's home, firearms and ammunition were seized. His accomplices were confiscated of cash and draft records of ‘debtors’.

Currently, all four detainees have been notified of suspicion under Part 4 Article 189 of the CCU (extortion committed by an organized group under martial law). Three of them, including the MP, are already in custody.

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the offense, including the gang's involvement in other crimes in the region. The offenders face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The SSU Office in Vinnytsia region carried out the operation under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.