The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) have filed a case against the owner of the agricultural holding "Ukrlandfarming" Oleh Bakhmatyuk in connection with the largest documented bribe in the history of Ukraine.
According to information, Bakhmatyuk is accused of giving a bribe of UAH 722 million to the former head of the State Fiscal Service, Roman Nasirov, and his advisor. The indictment, in which his actions were qualified under Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (offer, promise, or provision of an improper benefit to an official), was sent to court.
According to the results of the pre-trial investigation, which ended in May 2023, it was established that during 2015-2016, Nasirov received $5.5 million and 21 million euros, equivalent to UAH 722 million, from Bakhmatyuk. This was part of a scheme where the businessman provided bribes in exchange for value-added tax compensation of over UAH 3.2 billion for his companies.
The investigation against Nasirov ended in February 2023, and he remains under arrest. The case against Bakhmatyuk was concluded in April, but he remains at large abroad, and the materials against him have been separated into a separate criminal case.
Nasirov faces 8 to 12 years in prison for accepting a bribe, and Bakhmatyuk could face 5 to 10 years in prison for giving a bribe. The investigation was announced on Friday, February 2, and the NABU and SAPO announced the referral of the case to court.
