In Odessa, an official is under investigation on suspicion of extorting a bribe in connection with trade

In Odesa, an official tasked with cracking down on illegal street kiosks is suspected of demanding money in exchange for not having them dismantled. According to the investigation, owners were quoted a fixed price of 1,000 hryvnias per square meter for the “protection” of their retail outlets.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

According to the investigation, Viktor Kuleshov, chief specialist of the Odessa City Council’s Department for Control Over Dismantling and Countering Unregulated Street Vending, set up a scheme inApril 2026, together with an accomplice, to receive money in exchange for not dismantling street vending kiosks. He informed the owner of a retail kiosk on Kosmonavtiv Street that her permits had expired, so the kiosk could be dismantled, but offered to “resolve the issue” and said that an acquaintance of his would contact her.

According to law enforcement officials, negotiations with the businesswoman were conducted by the head of the Odesa City Association of Retail Employers. He was tasked with negotiating the terms under which the retail kiosks would not be dismantled. According to YouControl, the organization is headed by Rasim Huseynov.

According to the investigation, the man met with the businesswoman, introduced himself as a longtime friend of Kuleshov, and claimed he could help resolve the issue with the small retail kiosks. He proposed paying 1,000 hryvnias per square meter, promising in return that the structures would not be dismantled and would not be inspected for a year.

Later, the intermediary informed a company representative that 36,000 hryvnias would need to be paid to prevent the demolition of the structure at 32-A Kosmonavtiv Street. According to law enforcement officials, in July he received 11,000 hryvnias from the company representative—part of the agreed-upon bribe amount.

As a result, the official was remanded in custody with the right to post bail set at 266,200 hryvnias. At the same time, in a separate ruling, the court denied the investigation’s request to suspend the official from office.

Also in July, a female member of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City Council was detained on suspicion of bribery in connection with a permit to installa small retail kiosk. The official convinced the businesswoman that it was impossible to obtain a permit for a retail space without paying money. 

Анна Бальчінос