Criminal proceedings have been opened against the head of the Kharkiv Regional Council: how she comments on it

National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) started criminal proceedings against the head of the Kharkiv Regional Council Tetyana Yehorova-Lutsenko. The reason was found violations in the declaration for 2022. According to the agency, the total amount of falsely declared information exceeds 3.4 million hryvnias.

NAZK established that the head of the regional council did not indicate real estate in Nice (France), the value of which may amount to 88 thousand euros (over 2.7 million hryvnias), in the declaration. This property, according to the agency, was used (rented) by her husband Vitaly Lutsenko.

Signs of an overstatement of declared cash by more than 680,000 hryvnias and dubious data regarding her husband’s income were also recorded. In particular, NAZK questioned his sale of corporate rights to Le Folie’s restaurant in France for 500 euros.

In addition, there is no information in the declaration that her husband is the ultimate beneficial owner of a restaurant on the waterfront of the city of Cannes (France).

According to Part 1 of Article 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, Tetyana Yehorova-Lutsenko is threatened with:

• fine from 51,000 to 68,000 hryvnias;
• public works for a period of 150 to 240 hours;
• restriction of liberty for up to two years.

In addition, a punishment in the form of deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a period of up to three years may be applied.

Tetyana Yehorova-Lutsenko commented on the opening of the proceedings, explaining that the issue concerns a rented apartment with an area of ​​14 square meters. m in Nice, which her husband rented in 2022.

“He rented it on his own. I didn’t know about its existence at all. In 2022, he signed a lease agreement, and we provided this agreement to the National Agricultural Agency during the lifestyle monitoring.” – she noted in a comment for “Public”.

According to her, she did not include information about renting an apartment in the declaration, as the lease agreement was submitted to the NAKC even before the declaration was submitted.

“I hoped that this additional explanation would be taken into account by the NAKC. But they transferred the case to NABU, which is their right. We will defend our position,” – added the head of the regional council.

NAZK estimated the cost of the rented apartment at 88,000 euros. In addition, the agency questioned the operations related to the restaurant business of the official’s husband. Preparations for verification of the provided information are currently underway.

This case drew public attention to the need to increase transparency and accountability of officials in Ukraine.