MP Nikolai Zadorozhnyi suspected in corruption scheme

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office have completed the pre-trial investigation into Ukrainian MP of the IX convocation Nikolai Zadorozhnyi. According to the investigation, the parliamentarian demanded a multi-million hryvnia "kickback" in exchange for facilitating the restoration of water supply infrastructure in Okhtyrka district of Sumy Oblast.

What happened: 10% for a "service"

According to case materials, in March 2024, Zadorozhnyi allegedly demanded that the head of one of the rural councils in Sumy Oblast hand over 10% of the state tender amount in exchange for supporting the project. This concerned the repair of water supply infrastructure, valued at approximately 34 million hryvnia. Consequently, the bribe amount would have been around 3.4 million hryvnia.

Who else is involved in the case

According to the investigation, the acting deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police was involved in implementing the scheme. He was supposed to coordinate the transfer of funds through a subordinate.

Among the participants:

• Nikolai Zadorozhnyi — MP from the "Servant of the People" faction, elected in constituency No. 162 (Sumy Oblast). Before his political career, he was a showman and host at the event agency GB Event by Kvartal 95.

• Accomplice — former head of the Strategic Investigations Directorate of the National Police in Sumy Oblast, who at the time of the incident was acting as deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Audio recordings and expulsion from the party

After the facts were made public, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau released audio recordings on which, it is alleged, discussions of the alleged "kickback" to the MP and law enforcement representatives can be heard. The conversations were conducted in a semi-official manner, with mentions of specific amounts and money transfer schemes.

The reaction from the "Servant of the People" party was immediate: Zadorozhnyi was expelled from its ranks.