The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is investigating a case of abuse within the Ministry of Defense that resulted in damages of 57 million hryvnias.
According to court documents posted in the Unified Register of Court Decisions, the suspect in the violation is the former deputy director of the State Department of Surplus Property and Lands of the Ministry of Defense.
He is accused of "abuse of office, seeking improper benefits for himself and the state-owned concern Ukroboronprom," which resulted in grave consequences for the Ministry of Defense—the military lost 57,3 million hryvnias in funds from a special fund. Details are unclear, but it can be assumed that this relates to the sale of military camp property.
Criminal proceedings were initiated in May 2014 under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
According to pre-trial investigation materials, this official remained in his ministerial positions under the new government. His new position is Director of the Department for Control over Land Use and Protection of the State Agricultural Inspectorate of Ukraine.
Apparently, this refers to Oles Ivashchenko, who, according to information on the State Agricultural Inspectorate website, held this position until recently. A couple of years ago, he was also mentioned as the Deputy Director of the State Department of Surplus Property and Lands of the Ministry of Defense.
It's worth noting that in both cases, Ivashchenko had the same immediate supervisor, Oleksandr Cherpitsky, whom he followed from one agency to another. Cherpitsky is currently listed on the agricultural inspectorate's website as the director of the department for land use and protection. During Yanukovych's presidency, he was deputy minister of defense, concurrently holding the post and heading the department of surplus property and land, where Ivashchenko served as deputy.
As Zerkalo Nedeli previously reported, Oleksandr Cherpitsky was known in police reports under the nickname "Chepchik" and, upon assuming his position as deputy minister, failed to specify his occupation for many years in his biography. After joining the Ministry of Defense, the SBU denied him access to state secrets.
Before joining the Ministry of Defense, Cherpitsky nearly became First Deputy Minister of Transport. After the second round of the 2010 presidential election, he was appointed to the post by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. But the prime minister then rescinded the order.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, Facebook , Twitter , VK - Only new faces from the SKLEP section!