People's deputy of Ukraine from "Batkivshchyna" VO Oleg Meydych, who holds the position of first deputy chairman of the Verkhovna Rada's Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy, found himself at the center of a scandal due to possible abuse of his official position.
According to Slidstva.Info's investigation, he could use business trips for personal trips to Italy.
According to official data, Oleg Meydych received permission for business trips from the Verkhovna Rada in April and July 2023. The deputy was to visit Belgium and Lithuania. However, according to court documents obtained by Slidstva.Info journalists, Meidych did not appear in the specified countries. Instead, on April 28, 2023, it landed at Bologna Airport, Italy, and on May 5, it departed through one of Milan's airports.
The case is currently being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Investigators suspect that Mejdych could have entered false information into official documents, declaring his stay in Belgium and Lithuania, while he was actually vacationing in Italy. An important detail is that in both cases he violated the deadlines for returning from business trips by staying abroad.
Journalists also discovered that during Oleg Meidych's trips to Italy, his wife Tetyana Meidych accompanied him. On April 28, 2023, she also landed at Bologna airport and returned to Ukraine on May 5 through another airport near Milan — Bergamo Orio Al Serio. During Oleg Meidych's second business trip in July 2023, Tetiana flew out of the same airport again.
In the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, journalists did not receive a clear answer as to whether Meidych was really on a business trip in May and July 2023. The answer only states that the deputy took several days of vacation in both periods, which coincides with the dates when he stayed abroad.
Consequences for the deputy
If the SBI's suspicions are confirmed, it could have serious consequences for Oleg Meidych. Using official authority for personal purposes is a violation of the law and may result in criminal liability. The situation also raises questions about the supervision of people's deputies during business trips and potential abuses that may occur in this context.
