SBU officials, using their position, organised a scheme to exert pressure on businesses, demanding significant sums from entrepreneurs for “peaceful operations.” This significantly affects entrepreneurs who have encountered corrupt actions by law enforcement, as reported by SpecprokuraturaZahidRegion.
The Deputy Head of the SBU Main Department for Kyiv and the Kyiv region, along with a colleague from Rivne, have been suspected of receiving unlawful benefits on a large scale. Additionally, a civilian intermediary has faced corresponding charges.
The investigation revealed that contacts with businessmen were facilitated through a person close to the officials, offering them a “tariff” of 600,000 dollars for dropping criminal proceedings and other “problem issues.” Meetings were held in Rivne with specific demands.
Thus, on 6 March in Kyiv, 50,000 US dollars were handed over as the first payment. The next instalment of 250,000 dollars was handed over on 16 March in one of the restaurants in the Kyiv region.
The operational support was provided by the SBU’s Internal Security Department. Currently, all figures involved in the case have been detained, and law enforcement is investigating the details to identify other implicated individuals. Those detained face up to 12 years imprisonment with confiscation of property.