Odesa MP Kutsenko claims political persecution after new ESBU suspicion

Odesa City Council deputy Iryna Kutsenko, who was served another suspicion notice by the Bureau of Economic Security in the case of possible misappropriation of more than UAH 2 million, called the proceedings politically motivated. She said this in a commentary to Suspilne.

According to Kutsenko, she has already received two suspicions within the same proceedings, and the first of them was allegedly served on her without summons or interrogation. The MP stated that she found only one mention of her name in the case file and complained about the leakage of information to the media. She claims that she did not receive any money, but supported the creation of a programme for the free rehabilitation of Odesa residents.

Kutsenko calls the suspicions political pressure and says that her lawyers will challenge the BES's actions in court, and she plans to appeal to international organisations.

According to the BES, a group of people could have illegally received UAH 7.5 million of budget funds, overstated the number of patients and recorded services that were not actually provided. The MP and six other defendants were served suspicion notices under the article on misappropriation of property on a large scale. The court has already seized their property and vehicles.

Iryna Kutsenko has been working in the city council since 2015 and is a member of the social policy commission. Previously, she headed a non-governmental organisation and participated in the city's youth initiatives.