Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested Vasyl Lozytskyi, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development, who was responsible for the activities of the Energy Efficiency Directorate for 3 years, for a $400,000 bribe.
This is the highest-ranking civil servant arrested for bribery while performing duties during the time of Ukraine's independence, Yuriy Butusov, the editor of "Censor.NET" reports on Facebook.
Butusov noted that the case against the "Sluga naroda" was initiated on September 26, 2022. The suspect in corruption is considered to be a person close to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal, through whom it is possible to settle some "personal" issues with the head of the government.
"One of the biggest corruption scandals in the history of the Ukrainian government is beginning, as such a shameful and cynical crime should cause the resignation of the current government," he said.
Butusov emphasized that if there is no immediate action by the government and the president, and if the political party "Sluga naroda" does not condemn Lozytskyi's actions, this can significantly undermine trust in Ukraine, in particular, when receiving large tranches from international partners.
"Many international tranches going to the Ministry of Regions may be suspended, so the state must act immediately. The Verkhovna Rada should consider this issue at an extraordinary meeting and determine the fate of the government ruled by bribe-takers," he emphasized.
The press service of the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office noted that Lozytskyi was arrested for bribery by SAP prosecutors and NABU detectives. They also detained a number of other people.
"In the summer of 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated UAH 1.68 billion for the restoration of critical infrastructure facilities and providing the population with light, heat and water supply during the winter period. However, the investigation revealed that a number of officials of the central and regional executive bodies decided to appropriate part of the state funds. Thus, being in collusion with other persons, the officials ensured the conclusion of purchase contracts at an inflated cost with predetermined entities of business activity. Instead, entrepreneurs had to hand over UAH 280 million to the officials for "winning" in the tenders, which was the difference between the real and purchase cost of the services," SAP said.
As EcoPolitic reported earlier, in the Kyiv region, the prosecutor's office reported the suspicion to the engineer, who received more than 220 thousand hryvnias for non-performed service equipment in the Chornobyl NPP zone.
