Suspected corrupt mayor of Bashtanka in Mykolaiv region appeals against suspension

The mayor of Bashtanka , Oleksandr Berehovoi , was removed from office by the Bashtanka District Court on September 9, 2025, at the request of the investigator. He is suspected of embezzling budget funds during the purchase of military uniforms and shoes for a military unit in December 2022.

This is stated in the decision of the Mykolaiv Court of Appeal of November 6.

Berehovoi filed an appeal because he believes that the decision to suspend him was formal, and the conclusions about the need to extend it were based on assumptions rather than evidence. His defense lawyer insisted that all risks of possible influence on the investigation had already been eliminated by the previous preventive measure.

However, the Mykolaiv Court of Appeal dismissed Oleksandr Berehovoi's appeal and upheld the decision to remove him from office, arguing that the removal had "no negative consequences." At the same time, the court changed Berehovoi's preventive measure from bail to a personal commitment, extending the term of his obligations until December 10, 2025. These obligations include a ban on communicating with witnesses, leaving the district without the investigator's permission, reporting changes of residence and surrendering passports.

In addition, the court ruled to confiscate the bail posted: UAH 500,000 to be transferred to the needs of the Armed Forces, and UAH 552,000 to the Bashtanka city community as compensation for the damage caused. Beregovyi's case is part of a larger investigation involving 20 suspects from the Mykolaiv region in cases of alleged embezzlement totaling UAH 364 million.

Earlier, it was reported that Berehovoi 's wife posted bail for him in the amount of UAH 1.1 million, and the official was released. Berehovoi, who is suspected of embezzling community funds and assisting in their misappropriation when purchasing clothing for the military, was held in the Mykolaiv pre-trial detention center.

The city mayor was served a notice of suspicion on August 19. The process of choosing a preventive measure was accompanied by a number of events. On August 25, the court session did not take place because the judges recused themselves. On August 28, the mayor reported a deterioration in his health, which required an ambulance to be called to the court. As a result, the hearing was postponed again. Only on September 4, the court imposed a pre-trial restraint on Beregovoy - detention for 60 days with the right to be released on bail.

As a reminder, the mayor of Bashtanka declared a significant amount of real estate, cars and monetary assets. His wife owns a business and received substantial income from business activities.

According to the document, the official owns two residential buildings: a 65.1-m² house purchased in 2010 for UAH 299,776 and a 49.5-m² house purchased in 2008 for UAH 171,700. He also declared two non-residential premises with a total area of 389.3 m².

Катерина Глушко