NABU and SAPO expose bribery scheme for voting in Verkhovna Rada
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office have served suspicion notices to five current MPs. According to the investigation, they were part of an organised group in the Verkhovna Rada that ensured the adoption or blocking of draft laws in exchange for undue advantage
The group had a hierarchical structure and a clear division of roles. It was coordinated by one of the MPs together with the parliamentary staff. Voting instructions with draft law numbers were transmitted through a specially created group on the WhatsApp messenger. The perpetrators had to be present in the session hall and vote according to the instructions.
The amount of the undue benefit was determined by the so-called voting efficiency index, which depended on the number of supported projects and the discipline of participation in meetings. The amounts ranged from $2,000 to $20,000. In September-November 2022, payments were about $2,000, and since August 2025, they have increased to at least $5,000. From November to December this year alone, at least $145,000 was received with subsequent distribution among MPs
The actions of the suspects are classified under Part 3 of Article 28 and Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. All the suspects were served with motions to choose a measure of restraint. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, investigators are establishing the full range of participants in the scheme
Sources: Facebook Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and NABU
