Overview
- On January 1, the High Anti-Corruption Court ordered bail ranging from 16.6 million to 40 million hryvnias for five sitting lawmakers and required electronic monitoring and other procedural obligations.
- NABU and the Specialized Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office filed suspicions in late December, alleging an organized group facilitated improper payments for “needed” votes in the Verkhovna Rada.
- Investigators say the scheme coordinated instructions via a dedicated WhatsApp group and funneled cash to select deputies after votes.
- Authorities report payments ranged from about $2,000 in 2022 to as much as $20,000 in 2025, with distributions typically made on Thursdays following monthly results.
- Officials have not named the suspects, while media reports point to five Servant of the People deputies, some of whom deny the allegations or decline comment, including one who acknowledged the WhatsApp group but rejected claims of bribe-taking.