Corruption Scheme Exposed in Odesa Region

Officials from the State Bureau of Investigations, with the assistance of the Security Service of Ukraine, uncovered two law enforcement officers from the Odesa region who systematically extorted bribes from small business owners. Under the threat of mobilizing their employees, entrepreneurs were forced to pay regularly.

Since November 2024, the suspects demanded money monthly, threatening to report military registration offices about employees who were not on military records, as well as threatening fines and delivering summons.

The average amount of «tribute» was 9 thousand hryvnias from each entrepreneur and was determined individually. In total, they received about 220 thousand hryvnias per month from nearly 30 entrepreneurs, which they divided among themselves.

"On March 27, 2025, one of them was detained while receiving another bribe from several entrepreneurs totaling 42 thousand hryvnias. Both suspects have been charged under part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (receiving unlawful benefits)" - the statement said.

The penalty under this article provides for up to 10 years of imprisonment. The court has chosen a preventive measure in the form of detention with an alternative bail of 1 million hryvnias for each. A motion for their removal from office is being prepared. The procedural guidance is carried out by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.