Caught taking a bribe of over 76 thousand euros: MP Mykola Zadorozhny has been expelled from the “Sluga Naroda” party after being formally charged with suspicion of corruption

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office have reported exposing a member of the “Sluga Naroda” party for taking a bribe of 3.4 million hryvnias (over 76 thousand euros).

This announcement was made by the press service of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

Ukrainian journalists have identified the suspect as Mykola Zadorozhny, who is accused of extorting a bribe for not obstructing critical infrastructure repair work. According to the investigation, in March 2024, the MP allegedly solicited a kickback to avoid hindering a tender for repairing a water supply system in the Akhtyrsky district of Sumy region.

The NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office reported that the bribe amounted to 10% of the total contract value, with an additional 4% intended for local law enforcement to “turn a blind eye” to the corruption scheme’s implementation. The total bribe in question is 3.4 million hryvnias.

Zadorozhny has been expelled from the “Sluga Naroda” party, as announced on the political union’s Facebook page. Earlier today, Mykola Zadorozhny was formally charged with extorting a bribe of 3.4 million hryvnias for not obstructing infrastructure repair works in Sumy region.

Zadorozhny was elected as an MP from the 162nd district (Sumy region) and was a member of the budget committee. Previously, he worked at the event agency “GB Event by Kvartal 95” and was part of the comedic group “Brothers Gagarin,” which performed in the television project “Fight Club.” He is also a showman, host, and organizer of various festive events. He graduated from Kryvyi Rih Pedagogical University with a degree in physics and computer science education.