The SBU and the Prosecutor's Office are conducting a special operation due to alleged Russian influence on NABU detectives
SBU and the Office of the Prosecutor General exposed one of the heads of the interregional detective departments of NABU Ruslan Magamedrasulov for conducting business in the Russian Federation.
The official, stationed in Dnipro and coordinating the Bureau's activities in the frontline regions, including Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, according to the investigation, maintained contacts with representatives of the aggressor country and assisted his father in conducting illegal trade with the RF.
Investigators established that Magamedrasulov acted as an intermediary in the sale of batches of technical hemp, cultivated by his father, to the Republic of Dagestan. Also under review is information about possible contacts of the official with Russian special services, particularly regarding the transfer of confidential information about planned investigative actions.
Additionally, Magamedrasulov maintained contacts with the fugitive People's Deputy from the banned OPZZH party, Fedor Khistenko, who is linked to Russian special services and, according to the investigation, has influence over NABU's activities.
The investigation established that the official's father, Sentabr Magamedrasulov, is a citizen of the RF, but this information was not indicated when Ruslan Magamedrasulov was granted access to state secrets, which constitutes a violation of legislation. His mother, Irina Magamedrasulova, resides in Kyiv but receives a pension from the so-called "DNR" and posts pro-Russian comments on social networks.
Despite his position and responsibilities in frontline regions, Ruslan Magamedrasulov was almost constantly in Kyiv and recently returned from an elite vacation on Tenerife, where he spent several weeks.
Also the SBU announced that together with the prosecutor's office, they exposed People's Deputy Fedor Khistenko from the now banned OPZZH party for treason. According to case materials, he was a top agent (resident) of the FSB RF and was responsible for strengthening Russian influence on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).
The security service reported that after the start of the full-scale invasion, Khistenko fled Ukraine abroad and continues to exert influence on the bureau from there. According to the investigation, Khistenko is currently in close relations with some of NABU's leadership. Among them is one of the heads of the interregional detective departments of the bureau, Ruslan Magamedrasulov, who was detained by the SBU on Monday on suspicion of conducting business with the RF and contacts with Russians.
NABU commented on the searches of its employees: "Official position of NABU. As of now, at least 70 searches are being conducted by SBU and OPG employees concerning NABU staff. The searches involve at least 15 NABU employees. According to available information, investigative actions are being carried out without court warrants".
NABU noted that simultaneously, the SBU initiated an unscheduled check of the state secret protection system. "This (check) concerns NABU employees who have access to state secrets and to conduct covert investigative (search) actions. As a result of this check, the SBU may obtain information about ongoing and planned operational measures and investigative actions by NABU and SAP. Disclosing this information could jeopardize investigative activities and ongoing investigations," the bureau emphasized.
