Corrupt officials in the Ukrainian parliament, a recent investigation by Bihus.Info has unveiled a concerning statistic: over 10% of the 452 members of Ukraine’s 9th Verkhovna Rada have been implicated in criminal cases during their tenure. This equates to more than 50 parliamentarians facing allegations ranging from corruption to treason.
Distribution of Criminal Allegations Across Political Factions
The analysis reveals that every faction and parliamentary group, with the exception of the “Holos” faction, has members who are subjects of criminal investigations. The breakdown is as follows:
- Opposition Platform “For Life” (OPFL): 27% of its members are implicated.
- “Dovira” Group: 24% of members face allegations.
- “European Solidarity” (led by former President Petro Poroshenko): 18.5% of its deputies are under investigation.
- “For the Future” Group (associated with oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi): 17% of members are implicated.
- “Batkivshchyna” (led by Yulia Tymoshenko): 12% of deputies face criminal cases.
- “Servant of the People” (President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party): 9.8% of its members are under investigation.
Notably, the “Holos” faction stands out as the only group without any current members facing criminal allegations.
Prominent Figures Under Investigation
Several high-profile politicians are among those implicated:
- Viktor Medvedchuk (OPFL): Facing charges related to treason and alleged involvement in activities undermining national security.
- Vadym Rabinovych (OPFL): Under investigation for undisclosed criminal activities.
- Nestor Shufrych (OPFL): Facing allegations tied to corruption and abuse of power.
- Renat Kuzmin (OPFL): Subject to investigations concerning corruption charges.
- Oleksandr Trukhin (“Servant of the People”): Accused of attempting to bribe a police officer with 150,000 units of unspecified currency following a traffic incident.
- Andriy Odarchenko (“Servant of the People”): Allegedly offered a bribe in cryptocurrency; later fled to Romania and was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison.
Party Leadership’s Response
The leadership of the “Servant of the People” party has addressed these issues with varying perspectives:
- Dmytro Razumkov (First on the party list): Emphasized that individual deputies are responsible for their actions, suggesting that the party cannot be held accountable for personal misconduct.
- Oleksandr Korniyenko (Party Leader): Acknowledged partial moral responsibility for the inclusion of individuals now facing criminal charges but highlighted the challenges in vetting candidates thoroughly.
Implications for Ukrainian Politics
The prevalence of criminal allegations among parliamentarians raises significant concerns about governance and public trust in Ukraine. It underscores the necessity for:
- Enhanced Vetting Processes: Implementing stricter background checks for political candidates to ensure integrity and public confidence.
- Judicial Independence: Strengthening the autonomy of judicial institutions to handle cases involving politicians impartially.
- Transparency Measures: Promoting open governance and accountability to deter corrupt practices.
Statistical Overview
The following table summarizes the percentage of deputies implicated in criminal cases across various factions:
| Faction/Group | Percentage of Implicated Deputies |
|---|---|
| Opposition Platform “For Life” (OPFL) | 27% |
| “Dovira” Group | 24% |
| “European Solidarity” | 18.5% |
| “For the Future” Group | 17% |
| “Batkivshchyna” | 12% |
| “Servant of the People” | 9.8% |
| “Holos” | 0% |
Corrupt officials in the Ukrainian parliament
The findings from Bihus.Info’s investigation highlight a pressing issue within Ukraine’s legislative body, with over 10% of deputies implicated in criminal cases. Addressing this challenge requires concerted efforts from political parties, judicial bodies, and civil society to foster a culture of accountability and transparency in Ukrainian politics.
SOURCES:
- https://bihus.info/kozhen-10-j-deputat-9-sklykannya-figurant-kryminalnyh-sprav/