The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) filed a case against Oleh Bakhmatyuk, the owner of the Ukrlandfarming agricultural holding, in connection with the largest documented bribery in the history of Ukraine.
According to information, Bakhmatyuk is accused of paying a bribe of UAH 722 million to the former head of the State Fiscal Service Roman Nasirov and his adviser. The indictment, in which his actions were qualified under Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (offer, promise or granting of an unlawful benefit to an official), was sent to the 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 722 million UAH, from Bakhmatyuk. This became part of a scheme where the businessman provided a bribe in exchange for compensation of value added tax in the amount of more than 3.2 billion UAH for his companies.
The investigation into Nasirov ended in February 2023, and he remains under arrest. The case against Bakhmatyuk was completed in April, but he remains at large abroad, and the materials related to him have been separated into a separate criminal proceeding.
Nasirov faces 8 to 12 years for receiving a bribe, and Bakhmatyuk can be sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison for giving a bribe. The investigation was announced on Friday, February 2, NABU and SAP reported that the case was sent to court.
