Ukrainian anti-corruption bureau investigates fifth ruling party MP

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has issued a suspicion notice to Mikhail Laba, a member of parliament from the ruling Servant of the People party.

According to a Ukrainian outlet, Laba is the fifth lawmaker implicated in the so-called “envelope” case.

Previously, suspicion notices were served to MPs Yevheniy Pivovarov, Ihor Nehulevskyi, and Yuriy Kysel.

Investigators say Kysel’s office was used to collect illicit payments linked to the scheme. Another MP, Yuriy Koryavchenkov, has left Ukraine.

On December 27, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) announced the exposure of a new criminal scheme involving MPs. Suspicions were initially filed under Article 368 of the Criminal Code (accepting or offering improper benefits by an official). 

Court documents, however, also referenced Articles 255 (creating or leading a criminal organisation) and 369 (offering or giving improper benefits), which may be added when deciding on preventive measures.

The investigation began under former NABU director Artem Sytnyk. The late MP Anton Polyakov previously revealed that MPs received “envelope salaries” of $5,000 for regular deputies and $10,000–15,000 for committee chairs and deputies. NABU later arrested the scheme’s cashier, Oleksandr Trukhin.

By Aghakazim Guliyev