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Ukraine Charges Five Rada Deputies in Alleged Organized Vote-Buying Scheme

Investigators describe a WhatsApp chat directing roll calls, with cash distributions following approved votes.

Overview

  • NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office confirmed formal charges against five sitting members of the Verkhovna Rada as part of an organized group accused of arranging paid votes.
  • Ukrainian media identify the five as Mykhailo Laba, Yuriy Kisely, Igor Negulevsky, Evgeny Pivovarov and Olga Savchenko, citing law‑enforcement sources.
  • Officials say instructions with bill numbers were sent in a dedicated WhatsApp group and cash was then passed to deputies, with payments ranging from $2,000 to $20,000.
  • Investigators documented at least $145,000 received by one deputy in November–December 2025, part of which was redistributed to others.
  • Law‑enforcement conducted searches in Verkhovna Rada premises in Kyiv, and one suspected participant, deputy Yuriy Koriavchenkov, has left the country.