Zlochevskyi Mykola Vladyslavovych

38 licenses for himself, $6 million bribe, and a fine of 68 thousand hryvnias

Zlochevskyi became Minister of Ecology in Yanukovych's government in 2010 — and immediately gained direct access to the licensing mechanism for subsoil use. It was then that Burisma-controlled structures under the Ministry of Ecology issued at least 38 special permits for gas production to Burisma companies. In 2014, Zlochevskyi fled Ukraine following Yanukovych. In June 2020, NABU and SAP recorded an attempt to bribe the leadership of anti-corruption bodies with $6 million — the largest bribe in Ukraine's history — for the closure of criminal proceedings against Zlochevskyi. He was charged with organizing the bribe. However, in August 2023, the High Anti-Corruption Court approved an agreement: the case was requalified from bribery to "abuse of influence," and Zlochevskyi was fined 68 thousand hryvnias — "donating" 660 million UAH to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The verdict was classified without any explanation. 

The Bidens, new SBU investigations, and business on daughters

Burisma became the center of an international scandal after Zlochevskyi hired Hunter Biden — son of the US president — to the board of directors. Republicans used this connection to attack Joe Biden. Three weeks after the "buyout," the SBU opened two new proceedings against Zlochevskyi concerning the illegal obtaining of special subsoil permits in 2004-2012. At the same time, formally the owners of Burisma became his daughters Hanna and Karina. The $6 million seized in April 2022 was transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.