David Arakhamia found vouching for lawmaker facing corruption charges
Source: Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office
On Wednesday, “Servant of the People” faction leader David Arakhamia has stepped in to personally vouch for a fellow party member, Iryna Kormyshkina, who’s facing some serious accusations—illegal enrichment to the tune of over 20 million hryvnias.
The scandal erupted when the Anti-Corruption Court judge slapped Kormyshkina with a bail measure, but thanks to Arakhamia and Mykolaiv governor Vitaliy Kim, she appears to be getting away with it while the both politicians offered to act as her guarantors.
The lawmaker though will be under some tight obligations for the next two months. She will have to keep authorities informed if she changes her address or job, hand over her passport to prevent any international escapes, and she’s banned from chatting with specific individuals.
The allegations go back to 2021-2022, when investigators say Kormyshkina came into some hefty assets—over 20 million hryvnias, which she used the cash to buy a house in the Odesa region. The purchase appeared to be above her station as her official income during that time barely hit 2.7 million.
Kormushkina is now facing charges under Ukraine’s criminal code for illegal enrichment, a crime that could land her in jail for up to 10 years, with a possible ban on holding certain positions for three years.
Two years ago, the Anti-Corruption Action Center raised eyebrows when they revealed she’d received a 14.4 million hryvnia “gift.” Earlier, she also got another 5.3 million hryvnia and a Swiss watch, encrusted with 11 diamonds, worth 310,000 hryvnias. The gifts came from her father who doesn’t have any official income that could explain such lavish presents.
The Anti-Corruption Action Center even called on Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin to investigate, but when no action was taken, they took matters into their own hands and went to court. The High Anti-Corruption Court eventually ordered the Prosecutor General to open a case into Kormyshkina’s wealth.
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