The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has uncovered a large-scale bribery scheme in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament). According to media reports, formal suspicions have been handed to five MPs: Yevhenii Pyvovarov, Ihor Nehulevskyi, Olha Savchenko, Yurii Kisel, and Mykhailo Laba. Mykhailo Laba has publicly denied the allegations, describing them as false, but authorities have not officially released the names.
Investigators say the organized group has been operating since at least 2021. Lawmakers allegedly received between several thousand and $20,000 for supporting or blocking bills, as well as merely showing up in parliament on voting days. One MP coordinated money collection, distribution, and transfers. Payments were reportedly based on 'voting efficiency' and MPs' discipline, disbursed monthly.
From September to November 2022, the minimum payouts were about $2,000 per month, later rising sharply. In one documented case, an MP received at least $145,000 for further distribution among peers for voting.
Experts stress that the ongoing anti-corruption investigations could affect the Ukrainian parliament’s functioning and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s image since most implicated MPs belong to the president’s party. However, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) act autonomously, and President Zelensky has publicly distanced himself from ongoing inquiries.
With the country at war, observers say the scandal raises questions about legislative stability. Analysts expect political accountability and long-term consequences will become clearer after the war ends.
