SBU exposes protection racket scheme for porn offices in three Ukrainian regions

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted searches at the main directorates of the National Police in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, and Zhytomyr regions. The investigation established that the leadership of the territorial police units may have ensured the unimpeded operation of a network of so-called porn offices — premises where video content of an erotic and pornographic nature was illegally produced and distributed via the internet. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced this on Facebook.

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the intermediary in the scheme was the driver of one of the deputy ministers of internal affairs of Ukraine. Using his connections among senior National Police officials, he negotiated with the officials to ensure non-interference in the operation of the porn offices. In exchange for a monthly bribe, the police chiefs were to ignore the violations, refrain from shutting down the illegal porn studios, and provide advance warning of any possible inspections.

The monthly bribe amounted to $20,000, with the intermediary receiving an additional $5,000. To conceal the scheme, its participants used code words, communicated via messaging apps, and discussed the details of their arrangements in private.

In the course of the investigation, several instances of money transfers were documented. In February, the intermediary received $45,000 intended for the police leadership of one of the regions and for himself. In April, he received another $25,000: $20,000 for the deputy chief of the regional police directorate and $5,000 for himself. On the day the searches were carried out, the intermediary was detained after receiving another tranche of $25,000.

The investigative actions at the three main National Police directorates were conducted simultaneously in order to identify all officials involved in the scheme. According to the SBU, five people have been detained in connection with the case. As part of the criminal proceedings, one of the law enforcement officers has been notified of suspicion under the article on bribery.

In connection with the searches, a number of Ukrainian Telegram channels circulated information that National Police chief Ivan Vyhovsky had submitted a resignation letter. The National Police denied this information.

“This information does not correspond to reality. Vyhovsky has not submitted a resignation report, he is at his post and carrying out his duties,” said National Police spokeswoman Yulia Hirdvilis.

The outlet previously reported that an SBU major in Dnipro had been running a protection racket for drug laboratories. In the same city, four police officers were suspected of covering for a criminal group that tortured people.