Oleksandr Kuznetsov, a member of parliament from the Servant of the People party, was detained in a case related to abuses during the purchase of drones. The scandal caused a stir not only because of the seriousness of the accusations, but also because of the political weight of the person involved.
Before being elected to the Verkhovna Rada, Kuznetsov was engaged in business and also worked as an assistant to people's deputies: first to Volodymyr Medyanyk (Party of Regions), and later to Hryhoriy Shverk (Petro Poroshenko Bloc).
In 2019, he entered parliament as a majoritarian candidate from the Servant of the People party in District 106 in Luhansk Oblast. His election campaign was remembered for organizing a free concert by Tina Karol in Severodonetsk, which drew criticism from his competitors.
Kuznetsov held an important position in the president's party, heading the Luhansk regional organization of "Servants of the People." However, after the news of his detention was announced, the party urgently suspended his membership and decided to dismiss him from his position.
Among the political initiatives that Kuznetsov supported in parliament:
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legalization of medical cannabis,
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ban on religious organizations associated with Russia (in particular, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church),
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the adoption of a law that effectively deprived the NABU and SAPO of some of their powers.
The deputy is married and has two daughters. His declaration lists property in Luhansk, Stanytsia Luhanska, and Severodonetsk — all of which are currently temporarily occupied by Russia. In Kyiv, Kuznetsov rents housing, and his wife owns a plot of land for development.
The family's fleet includes a Volkswagen Transporter, an Acura MDX, and a BMW G6X, which was purchased in 2021 for over 2 million hryvnias. The family also owns about $30,000 in cash and almost 200,000 hryvnias in accounts. The declaration also lists Jorg Hysek and Ulysse Nardin watches, though without an estimated value.
Kuznetsov's wife works as an assistant to another MP from the Servant of the People party, Oleksandr Kabanov. Last year, her income exceeded her husband's: 1.075 million hryvnias compared to his 802 thousand.
The investigation into the drone procurement fraud is ongoing. The facts revealed by the investigation could have serious legal consequences for Kuznetsov and damage the party's reputation as a whole.
