Record Bribe Case: The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine exposed a scheme by Nasirov to launder 21 million euros

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have uncovered a scheme involving the legalization of a bribe received by the former head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine in 2015-2016 and his associates.

The press service of NABU reported that this case involves Roman Nasirov and developer Oleksandr Hlymbovsky.

According to the investigation, Nasirov’s father-in-law, Oleksandr Hlymbovsky, helped to launder a bribe of more than 13 million euros, which was deposited into the accounts of a non-resident company in the British Virgin Islands. This bribe, according to NABU, was given to Nasirov by the owner of the agricultural holding Ukrlandfarming, Oleh Bakhmatiuk, in exchange for VAT refunds for his companies.

Hlymbovsky spent the 13 million euros on purchasing an unfinished residential-office complex with parking in central Kyiv. The complex continued to be developed and generate additional income, particularly in 2022-2023, as noted by NABU.

By the end of 2023, NABU and SAPO succeeded in seizing 81 properties and more than 30 million UAH acquired by the owner of the group of construction companies through the laundered funds. The remaining 7.9 million euros, which were in an account of the company in the British Virgin Islands, were laundered by Nasirov’s advisor, according to NABU. They added that it is currently being investigated how an additional 5.5 million dollars were laundered.

Oleksandr Hlymbovsky has been charged under part 5 of article 27, part 4 of article 368, and part 3 of article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Nasirov’s advisor has been charged under part 3 of article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. They face up to 12 years of imprisonment and a ban on holding certain positions.

On March 2, 2017, Nasirov was detained at Feofania Hospital as part of the investigation into the “gas case” connected with MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko. According to NABU, from May 2015 to March 2016, the head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine made a series of unfounded and illegal decisions to defer payment amounts for rent for the use of subsoil involved in the so-called “Onyshchenko gas scheme,” causing damage to the state amounting to 2.019 billion UAH.

On December 11, 2018, Nasirov, who was dismissed following the opening of a criminal case, was reinstated as head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine through a court decision.

On October 31, 2022, the High Anti-Corruption Court arrested Roman Nasirov until December 17, 2022, on suspicion of receiving a bribe of 722 million UAH from billionaire Oleh Bakhmatiuk. On April 18, NABU and SAPO completed the pre-trial investigation.

According to the court’s decision, Nasirov was taken into custody until May 26, 2024, with the possibility of posting bail, which was reduced from the initial 523.2 million UAH to 65 million UAH. On May 24, the press service of the High Anti-Corruption Court reported that bail for Nasirov had been posted in the amount of 55 million UAH (1 million 262 thousand 209 euros). He was released from custody after 1.5 years in pre-trial detention.