Position: Secretary of the Novomoskovsk City Council.
The sphere of corrupt activity: construction.
Region of corruption activity: Dnipropetrovsk region.
Qualification: Arutyunov's actions were qualified under Part 4 of Art. 368, Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: in custody.
The plot of the case: in April 2024, the specialized prosecutor's office in the field of defense of the Eastern region reported that the mayor and the secretary of the city council were arrested in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast for a bribe of $30,000. It was about Serhiy Reznik and Volodymyr Arutyunov. The officials were accused of receiving an unlawful benefit in a particularly large amount.
The detainees are suspected of receiving money for assistance in the long-term lease of an unfinished building with an area of 4,500 square meters. m with the possibility of registration of ownership.
The State Bureau of Investigation added that officials demanded a $30,000 bribe from an entrepreneur who wanted to build a dormitory for displaced people. The unfinished school has been standing on the community's territory since the 90s. The entrepreneur decided to renovate the premises so that the displaced persons could be accommodated there. An international humanitarian organization had to pay for the citizens' accommodation.
For the money, the mayor and the secretary promised to put the issue to the vote of the session and further influence the deputies to support the decision on long-term lease of the premises. This made it possible to rent premises without announcing a special tender.
On April 9, the businessman gave the bribe to the secretary of the council in his office. During the transfer of money, both officials were detained.
Both officials were informed of the suspicion of extorting and receiving an illegal benefit in a particularly large amount (Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). It provides for a punishment of up to 12 years with confiscation of property.
The full circle of persons who may be involved in the embezzlement is also being established, including checking information on local law enforcement officers.
Later, the Mayor of Novomoskovsk, Serhiy Reznik, was given a preventive measure. The official was taken into custody with the possibility of a bail of 3 million hryvnias. The same preventive measure was chosen for Volodymyr Arutyunov.
Persons potentially involved in the corruption scheme: Serhii Reznik, mayor of Novomoskovsk, Dnipropetrovsk region.
Assets: in the declaration for 2022, Arutyunov indicated two apartments in Dnipro (one of them jointly owned with other relatives).
Among valuable movable property, Arutyunov declared three engagement watches of luxury brands Breitling, Rolex (value 120,000 UAH), BREGUET (204,675 UAH).
Arutyunov also declared a LAND ROVER car, purchased in 2021, worth UAH 622,840.
The official's income for the first year of the full-scale war was UAH 736,864.
Volodymyr Arutyunov declared USD 139,259 and EUR 65,000 in cash, and UAH 2,356, USD 5,029 and EUR 8,000 in his bank accounts.
In 2023, Arutyunov's salary was UAH 709,156.
In cash, the official indicated 139,259 dollars and 65,000 euros, and in bank accounts - 33,858 hryvnias, 256 dollars and 588 euros.
For comparison, in 2021, Arutyunov's income was UAH 2,317,661.
Persons who should have responded to corruption schemes: in the case of a corruption scheme involving Arutyunov, law enforcement agencies responded in time to the official's criminal activity.
Scandals: before the emergence of the corruption scheme, he was not noticed as a figure in other scandals.
Sources:
Caught a $30,000 bribe: the mayor of Dnipropetrovsk region was arrested
What corruption scandals is the odious mayor of Novomoskovsk involved in?
Unified state register of declarations