In Kirovohrad region, NABU caught a judge and his accomplice taking a bribe

Employees of Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), together with the Special Operations Directorate, have exposed a district court judge in Kirovohrad region and an accomplice for allegedly receiving an unlawful benefit (a bribe).

This was reported by NABU’s press service.

Investigators say that in late 2025 the judge received a case file on an administrative offense—driving under the influence of alcohol (Part 1, Article 130 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses).

To avoid punishment, the driver allegedly approached a deputy head of a local community (hromada) who had friendly relations with the judge. The official offered to “solve the problem” for money and agreed to act as a intermediary in transferring the bribe.

Following the judge’s instructions, the driver allegedly gave explanations meant to create the appearance that there was no offense—for example, claiming he had been stopped not because of intoxication but supposedly because his low-beam headlights were off. On the basis of these statements, the judge issued a ruling to close the proceedings.

After the desired decision was made, the accomplice received the agreed bribe amount, passed part of it to the judge, and kept the rest, NABU said.

Legal qualification: Part 5, Article 27 and Part 3, Article 368 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, NABU added.