Case on bribery of ex-head of Kodyma district council closed in Odesa region

In Odesa region, the case of bribery of a high-ranking official, which lasted more than a decade, has been completed. It was about approving the lease of municipal property.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

The criminal proceedings were opened in February 2015. According to the investigation, the then head of the Kodyma District Council, who was also a deputy of the VI convocation, took advantage of her official position to take a bribe.

Investigators noted that on March 6, 2015, in Odesa, she allegedly received UAH 10 thousand for approving the lease of the assembly hall of the municipal hospital in Kodyma. According to the court ruling, the former official is now the head of the Lysohirsk Gymnasium.

The premises in question were about 220 square meters in size, which was jointly owned by the district's territorial communities and could not be leased without proper authorization. According to the prosecution, it was the granting of such a permit that became the basis for extortion.

The official's actions were classified as bribery by an official in a responsible position. She was also charged with an attempted similar crime.

Despite the seriousness of the charges, the case was not considered on the merits for a long time. In August 2025, the defense filed a motion to close the case due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, as more than 10 years had passed since the alleged offense. The law allows for exemption from criminal liability in such cases.

During the hearing, the defense lawyer insisted on the application of the statute of limitations, and the defendant herself supported the motion, recognizing that closing the case did not mean establishing her innocence. The prosecutor did not object to this decision.

The court granted the defense's motion: the proceedings were closed, and the defendant was released from liability. All previously imposed restrictions were also lifted, including the seizure of the VAZ 2107 car, land and other property. In addition, the court decided to return the bail in the amount of over UAH 97 thousand to the bailor.

The SBU also exposed a scheme to seize communal land in Odesa region, involving local government officials and their entourage. The suspects include the head of the community, a deputy and related persons who have been transferring land assets to private ownership for years.

Анна Бальчінос