SAP seeks arrest of ex-Deputy Head of OP Smirnov

Former Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Smirnov may be taken into custody. The prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has filed a corresponding petition with the court.

This is reported by the media.

Andriy Smirnov is accused of illegal enrichment and receiving a bribe in an especially large amount. According to the NABU and SAPO, Smirnov illegally acquired money and decided to use it to build private houses with a total area of ​​over 300 sq. m in a recreational area of ​​the Odessa region.

In 2022, a representative of the construction business offered Smirnov a bribe of 100 thousand US dollars to influence the decision of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine and ensure victory in the tender for the construction of a recreational zone.

The SAPO prosecutor stated in the courtroom that Smirnov risks fleeing abroad, citing his connections and financial resources. The investigation also expressed concerns about possible pressure on witnesses.

Andriy Smirnov's lawyer, in turn, filed a motion to disqualify the prosecutor, claiming a violation of the presumption of innocence and possible bias on the part of the prosecution. The court rejected the motion to disqualify the prosecutor.

Andriy Smirnov will be chosen as a preventive measure on May 1. Smirnov already has suspicion from the NABU in a case of illegal enrichment in the amount of UAH 15.7 million.

Andriy Smirnov is a figure in the EBK database.

We previously wrote that new details became known in the case of former deputy head of the OP Smirnov.