The biggest bribe in the history of Ukraine: Bakhmatyuk’s case sent to court
5 February 2024 11:51
The NABU and the SAPO have sent to court the case against Oleg Bakhmatyuk, owner of Ukrlandfarming, who is accused of providing UAH 722 million in undue benefits to the former head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine Roman Nasirov and his advisor. This was reported by the 
with reference to the NABU press service .
The offender’s actions are classified under Part 4 of Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (promising or giving an unlawful benefit to an official). The sanction of the article provides for imprisonment for a term of 5 to 10 years with or without confiscation of property. At the same time, his name, as well as the name of the former head of the SFS, is not mentioned in the agency’s report, but the circumstances of the case and the amount of the bribe point to the case of Bakhmatyuk’s bribe to Nasirov.
The NABU notes that this was“the largest documented undue advantage in the history of Ukraine”.
The investigation established that Bakhmatyuk provided the former head of the SFS with an undue advantage worth UAH 722 million. This benefit was related to securing reimbursement of more than UAH 540 million to the companies of the agricultural holding in August 2015 and almost EUR 2.7 billion for VAT refunds between February 2015 and August 2016.
According to the NABU, Bakhmatyuk transferred “service fees” to the accounts of foreign companies controlled by the SFS head and his ent ourage. The chief fiscal officer prioritised VAT refunds in favour of the companies of the agricultural holding, while ignoring other amounts claimed by other business entities that were also entitled to budgetary refunds.
on2 February 2023, the NABU and the SAPO completed the investigation against the former head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine and his accomplice (advisor), and on 24 May the case was sent to court.
on 18 April 2023, the NABU and the SAPO completed an investigation into the suspicion of the owner of an agricultural holding. In March, the HACC arrested Bakhmatyuk in absentia. The businessman stated that this decision was a gross violation of international law. He is currently on the wanted list.
