Prosecutor Volodymyr Hushan Reprimanded for Extortion in Odesa

Volodymyr Hushan, prosecutor of the Berezivsky District Prosecutor's Office in Odesa region, was reprimanded for extortion.

This was reported by Slidstvo.info, citing the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Prosecutors.

A complaint was filed with the QDCP against Volodymyr Hushan because he misled a man who was previously under investigation. In particular, in 2023, the Berezivskyi District Police Department conducted a pre-trial investigation in a criminal proceeding regarding the illegal sale of ammunition. However, the proceedings were later closed because no evidence of the suspect's guilt was found, and the materials of covert investigative (search) actions were destroyed.

Nevertheless, in 2024, Volodymyr Hushan, who was a senior prosecutor in this case, began to communicate with the ex-suspect and did not tell him that the case had already been closed. Instead, Gushan gave the man the impression that the pre-trial investigation was ongoing and that a number of operational and investigative measures were being taken in the case. The former suspect said that he then asked the prosecutor how the matter could be resolved. Volodymyr Hushan told him that the issue could not be resolved for a bottle of cognac, and that the police were asking for one thousand US dollars. At the same time, Volodymyr Hushan did not guarantee that he would be able to get the case closed, but promised to control everything.

The suspect refused to give a bribe and appealed to the SBU. The man recorded some of his conversations with the prosecutor. At a meeting of the QDCP, Volodymyr Hushan confirmed that he had violated prosecutorial ethics because he had met with the former criminal defendant on several occasions. At the same time, Hushan did not admit that he had disclosed state secrets or engaged in corruption, and explained his conversations with the ex-suspect as friendly relations.

The Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Prosecutors decided to bring Volodymyr Hushan to disciplinary responsibility. He was banned from transferring to a higher-level prosecutor's office. In addition, for a year, Volodymyr Hushan will not be able to be appointed to a higher position in the Berezovsky District Prosecutor's Office.

Кирило Бойко