MP Anatoliy Hunko sentenced to seven years for bribery

Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) found People's Deputy Anatoliy Hunko guilty of receiving a bribe and sentenced him to seven years in prison with the confiscation of property and a ban on holding certain positions.

Trial proceedings and defence position

The case has been in court since February 2024. During questioning, Hunko admitted to receiving improper benefit, but the defence maintained that the crime was the result of entrapment.

The prosecutor sought eight years in prison with the confiscation of property for the defendant, as well as mandatory wearing of an electronic bracelet until the verdict entered into legal force. However, the court imposed a lighter sentence.

Mechanism of bribe receipt

The investigation established that Hunko acted in collusion with his assistant Ihor Kalynichenko and another accomplice. They demanded money from a representative of the agro-firm "Agroform-2019" in exchange for permission to cultivate state-owned land.

The cost of the "service" was $130 per hectare. The total amount of the bribe was to be $221,000, of which $85,000 was handed over as an advance.

Other defendants and party reaction

In November 2024, the case against Hunko's assistant Ihor Kalynichenko was suspended due to his mobilisation into the army.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) completed the investigation into Hunko's case in December 2023. Following the deputy's detention, he was expelled from the "Servant of the People" faction.