The Power Within: The Kyiv Independent’s first-ever magazine. Be among the first to get it.

pre-order now
Skip to content
Edit post

MP from Zelensky's party charged with bribery concludes plea bargain

by The Kyiv Independent news desk February 22, 2023 8:00 PM 2 min read
This audio is created with AI assistance

Oleksandr Trukhin, a lawmaker from the ruling Servant of the People party, said on Feb. 22 he had concluded a plea bargain with investigators and pleaded guilty to offering a bribe to a police officer.

"I understand that I did something foolish, and it is wrong. I am ready to be punished for this," Trukhin said at a High Anti-Corruption Court hearing.

The anti-corruption prosecutor's office said on Sept. 7 that it had charged Trukhin with offering an Hr 150,000 ($4,000) bribe to police officers. Trukhin made the offer in August 2021 after allegedly causing a car accident that injured six people, according to video footage from the scene.

According to the court, Trukhin and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office signed an agreement that requires the lawmaker to pay Hr 6 million ($163,000) to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Oleg Sukhov: US should sanction these 2 symbols of Ukraine’s corruption

This payment is intended to show Trukhin's remorse for his actions. Specifically, the funds will be allocated to the United24 project and the "Army of Drones."

Trukhin must also pay a fine of Hr 68,000 ($1800), the maximum amount for the article he is charged under. In addition, the Hr 49,000 ($1300) that Trukhin had deposited during the investigation will be transferred to the Armed Forces.

While signing the plea deal, Trukhin admitted to offering a bribe to leave the scene of the accident as quickly as possible. The prosecutor clarified that the agreement did not concern Trukhin's participation in the accident itself.

According to the prosecution, Trukhin's crime was not serious enough to warrant a more severe punishment than a fine. This decision was also influenced by the fact that Trukhin has two children.

Once the sentence becomes final, Trukhin will lose his mandate as a lawmaker.

Media: Cabinet fires heads of customs, tax agencies amid corruption cases.

News Feed

8:06 AM

Zelensky arrives in South Africa to meet President Ramaphosa.

"We count on South Africa’s meaningful participation in the International Coalition for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. We will also certainly strengthen our cultural and educational ties," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
5:30 AM

Trump says he may meet Putin 'shortly' after May Middle East visit.

Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Trump and Putin have yet to have direct contact, communicating only through their officials. Trump's last in-person encounter with his Russian counterpart was during the 2018 Helsinki Summit during the U.S. president's first term.
8:08 PM

Ukrainians react to US proposal of recognizing Crimea as Russian.

The U.S. media outlet Axios reported on April 23 that the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's final proposal for ending the Russia-Ukraine war included the U.S. de jure recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea and de facto recognizing its control of other occupied Ukrainian territories. We asked Kyiv residents for their reactions to the U.S. proposal.
7:21 PM  (Updated: )

Trump says 'nobody is asking' Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian.

"Nobody is asking (President Volodymyr) Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" U.S. President Donald Trump wrote.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.