68 a thousand fine and millions for defense: where the money went in the Zlochevsky case

Mykola Zlochevskyi received 68 thousand hryvnias in fines after the qualifier changed and a deal with the investigation was concluded. At the same time, within the framework of the deal and related decisions, hundreds of millions of hryvnias and millions of dollars were involved, directed to defense needs.

In 2023 year the High Anti-Corruption Court approved the plea agreement with former Ecology Minister Mykola Zlochevskyi in a case about attempting to bribe the leadership of NABU and SAP. He was sentenced to 68 thousand hryvnias in fines.

At the same time, Zlochevskyi agreed to transfer 500 million UAH to the “Drone Army” project and to provide the Defense Forces with equipment worth more than 160 million UAH. Thus the question arises not only about the size of the punishment but also about how exactly the financial obligations were arranged and fulfilled.

Why was the accusation changed

Initially Zlochevskyi was charged with organizing the provision of an improper benefit to a person in a position of special responsibility. In March 2023 year the qualification was changed to organizing the provision of an improper benefit to influence the decision of an authorized person — part 3 of Article 27 and part 1 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

According to SAP, there was insufficient evidence for the initial qualification: according to the prosecution, Zlochevskyi did not know to whom the money would be given, did not participate in the relevant negotiations, and acted through intermediaries. The new qualification was approved by then head of SAP Oleksandr Klymenko.

It was the change in the article that opened the possibility to conclude a punishment agreement in the form of a fine. Under the new qualification, 68 thousand hryvnias became the maximum possible fine.

Hundreds of millions — for defense

In addition to the fine, significantly larger sums were involved in the case.

Zlochevskyi transferred 500 million UAH to the “Drone Army,” and a company controlled by his relatives provided the Defense Forces with equipment worth more than 160 million UAH. According to SAP, another 5,8 million UAH was transferred by Zlochevskyi’s relatives to the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the deal was concluded.

Separately in the case materials, funds of other participants are involved. In particular, Andriy Kicha, under his deal, was to transfer 100 million UAH to the “Drone Army,” and Mykola Ilyashenko — 50 million UAH. The latter also received a five-year prison term with a three-year probation.

And what about the dollars?

Another episode concerns about 6 million dollars that were involved in the bribe case. Some of these funds, according to law enforcement, were confiscated and directed to the needs of the Defense Forces. “Ukrainska pravda” estimated the total volume of funds and property directed to defense within the case and deals with the defendants at about 855,5 million hryvnias.

At the same time, these payments should not be mixed into one amount: a fine, voluntary contributions under agreements, confiscated funds, bail, and equipment transferred to the military had different legal bases.

Can the whole financial route be traced?

This is where the most questions arise. If society is told about hundreds of millions of hryvnias transferred to defense, it is important to understand who was the legal recipient, to which accounts they went, and what exactly was purchased with them.

Some payments were officially confirmed by NABU, SAP, and participants in the process. At the same time, journalists drew attention to limited access to the full text of Zlochevskyi’s verdict: the document was sealed, and details of the financial terms of the deal remained largely inaccessible for a long time.

So in this story the question is not only why the punishment for a million-bribe case was a fine of 68 thousand hryvnias. No less important is whether it is possible to document each amount intended for defense needs and whether all terms of the deals were fully fulfilled.

Recall that electricity prices rose from 1,9 to 3,81 UAH: a bureaucrat in Bukovina is accused of embezzlement.