Corruption scandal: investigation of Zadorozhnyi’s case completed
8 April 23:30
Law enforcers have completed the investigation into the case of a member of the Ukrainian parliament of the IX convocation who is suspected of extortion of illegal benefits on a particularly large scale. This was reported by Komersant ukrainskyi with reference to the NABU press service.
The official’s name is not specified, but it is probably Mykola Zadorozhnyi, a member of the Servant of the People party, who was served with a notice of suspicion last July.
“According to detectives, in March 2024, the MP asked the head of a village council in Sumy region to give a bribe for not interfering with a tender for the repair of a water supply system in the Okhtyrka district of Sumy region,” the NABU said.
The MP demanded 14% of the funds allocated for the repair of the water supply system in Okhtyrka district of Sumy region, of which 10% were intended for him personally and 4% for local law enforcement officers, who were not to obstruct the use of the allocated funds. According to the investigation, the amount involved is UAH 3.4 million.
The SAPO reported that from May to July 2024, this MP was assisted by the acting Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine (former head of the Internal Affairs Department in Sumy region) and his subordinate. The law enforcement officer had to ensure the transfer of funds from the head of the village council (the applicant) to the MP through the involvement of his subordinate employee.
The NABU and the SAPO exposed the crime in July 2024.
The MP’s actions were classified on the grounds of crimes under Part 4 of Art. 368, Part 3 of Art. 27, Part 2 of Art. 15, Part 4 of Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The actions of the police officers are charged under Part 5 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 15, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
What is known about the Zadorozhnyi case
According to the investigation, the MP “demanded 14% of the funds allocated for the repair of the water supply system in the Okhtyrka district of Sumy region: 10% of which were intended for him personally and 4% for local law enforcement officers, who were not to create obstacles in the use of the allocated funds.” According to the investigation, it was UAH 3.4 million.
Later, Zadorozhnyi was expelled from the Servant of the People party and from the PIC on the construction of fortifications and the purchase of drones, where he was the chairman.
on July 17, during a plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada, Zadorozhnyi actually confessed to bribery. Following a statement by the European Solidarity faction, which expressed outrage at the presence in parliament of a member of parliament who had been served with a bribery notice only the day before, Zadorozhnyi was given the right to respond. In his response, he said that there were other corrupt officials in the Rada.
“There are people in your faction who took bribes, and for some reason they also walk around this hall,” he said.
His statement caused laughter and ironic applause. After all, the word “too” in Zadorozhny’s statement actually confirms that he himself is also involved in bribery.
What we know about Mykola Zadorozhnyi
Born on December 5, 1984 in Novoyulivka village, Sofiyivka district, Dnipro region. He graduated from Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University. He is a teacher of physics and computer science. He is a sales and supply manager. He was also engaged in teaching.
Sales and Supply Manager, worked at the GB Event by Kvartal 95 event agency. He was also a teacher. He was a member of the comedy group “Gagarin Brothers”, which performed on the TV project “Fight Club”.
Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the IX convocation (constituency #162, Sumy region).
At the end of 2022, he voted for the urban planning reform (#5655), which was implemented in the interests of developers and leveled the influence of citizens on the reconstruction of Ukraine. Due to public opposition, as of the beginning of 2024, the President did not sign the bill, and thus it remains ineffective.
