Position : ex-mer of Rivne.
The sphere of corrupt activity : decision-making in conditions of conflict of interests, namely, bonuses and allowances for subordinates, as well as the return of bonuses to oneself.
Region of corruption activity: city of Rivne, Rivne region.
Qualification : Part 2 of Article 172-7 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Status : the mayor of Rivne was deprived of the right to hold positions related to the performance of the functions of the state or local self-government for a period of one year, and a fine of 6,800 hryvnias was also collected from Tretyak.
The plot of the case : Oleksandr Tretyak became one of those who were unlucky enough to fall under the watchful eye of the NAKC.
As many as three protocols on conflict of interests were drawn up on him. It is about returning the bonuses, voting for the appointment of the head of affairs of the executive committee and assigning her bonuses and allowances. The first two protocols were closed due to the absence of a violation and the statute of limitations.
However, the third decided the further fate of Tretyak. As it turned out, Tretyak voted on April 29, 2021 for the appointment of Maria Korniychuk to the position of head of affairs of the executive committee of the city council. The mayor did not report that he had a conflict of interest, because it was the aforementioned Korniychuk who worked at Tretyak's headquarters during the elections and made a voluntary contribution to his election fund. It was 45 thousand hryvnias of voluntary contributions to the election fund of Oleksandr Tretyak that Maria Illivna Korniychuk made on November 18, 2020 - four days before the second round of Rivne mayoral elections. These data were preserved in the information on the receipt of voluntary contributions of individuals" submitted by Tretyak.
Based on this complaint by the National Committee of the National People's Congress, the judge of the city court of Rivne, Petro Denysiuk, found the mayor Oleksandr Tretyak guilty of a corruption offense. In this way, the mayor of Rivne was deprived of the right to hold positions related to the performance of the functions of the state or local self-government for a period of one year, and a fine of 6 thousand 800 hryvnias was also collected from Tretyak.
Tretyak called the case "pressure on local self-government", "a mockery of the law" and assumed that this was a political order, he also tried to stay in office, even filed an appeal, but the appeals court rejected it.
After the decision of the appeals court, the former mayor already said that he would appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, and, despite the suspension, "will work for the good of the community."
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes:
"Councillor" Maria Korniychuk.
During the 20th elections, she worked in Oleksandr Tretyak's headquarters and made donations to his election fund.
Already after winning the elections, Tretyak appointed her as his adviser, and in April 2021 he submitted her candidacy for the position of manager of affairs. In both positions, Maria Korniychuk received salary increments, which were assigned under the signature of Oleksandr Tretyak.
The mass media drew attention to the fact that at that time the mayor of Rivne signed Order No. 1087-r, by which Councilor Korniychuk was given an allowance in the amount of 50% of the official salary "for performing particularly difficult work."
Oleksandr Tretyak also signed the decree on the establishment of Korniichuk's allowance in the amount of 50% to the official salary - "for high achievements in work."
Such actions can be seen as a violation of the law, because, in fact, the city mayor financially "thanked" the person who financially supported him in the elections with the help of taxpayers.
Fortune : A few months before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, information began to spread in the regional media that Tretyak had purchased a luxurious house on the outskirts of Rivne.
It is interesting that before becoming mayor, Oleksandr Tretyak, if you believe his declarations, lived in a one-room apartment with an area of only 35 square meters.
At first, the former mayor wanted to hide the fact that he had purchased luxury real estate and stated in a conversation with journalists that he does not live there and does not use that house.
However, on December 30, 2021, he still submitted two notifications to the NAZK about changes in the property status, indicating that on December 21, he registered a house of 280 square meters. and a plot of land for 12.5 acres in Barmaky. He indicated the full cost of the house - 2 million 467 thousand 100 hryvnias (according to the dollar exchange rate on that day - 90 thousand 420 dollars).
And also the cost of the land - 317 thousand 163 hryvnias (according to the dollar exchange rate on that day - 11 thousand 620 dollars).
In total - 2 million 784 thousand 263 hryvnias (or 102 thousand 40 dollars). Of which 71 thousand 390 dollars are credit and 30 thousand 650 dollars.
Tretyak's house is in a modern style: with large windows, a terrace and a balcony. A two-meter fence surrounds the property, as is customary among Ukrainian officials.
It is interesting that the house bought by Tretyak, real estate agency "Fazenda" was sold for 220 thousand dollars. At the rate of December 2021, this is about six million hryvnias.
That is, it was at least twice as expensive as it was sold to the mayor of Rivne at that time.
Scandals : Since journalists found information that the house bought by Oleksandr Tretyak was valued at $220,000 at the time of sale, it looked like the mayor either received a suspicious discount or underestimated the real value of the house, which does not correspond to his official income .
In this regard, on January 5, 2022, the Rivne District Police Department began an investigation under Part 2 of Article 366-2 of the Criminal Code - intentional entry of known false information into the declaration, if it differs from the real one in the amount of more than 2,000 subsistence minimums for able-bodied persons (as of January 1, 2022 – 496 thousand 200 hryvnias).
Such a crime is punishable by a fine of 4,000 to 5,000 of the tax-free minimum income of citizens (from 68 to 85,000 hryvnias) or community service for a period of 150 to 240 hours, or restriction of liberty for a period of up to two years, or deprivation of liberty for the same period , with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a period of up to three years.
According to the spokeswoman of the Rivne region police Maria Yustytska, the criminal proceedings were referred to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine on September 15, 2022.
The main unit of detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine informed journalists that the criminal proceedings were closed - on the grounds specified in clause 2, part 1, article 284 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine - "In
connection with the absence of a criminal offence."
After that, the streak of failures did not end for Tretyak. First, he was dismissed from his post, and then he was also entered into the Register of Corrupt Persons.
Staying in the Register of Corrupt Persons, in addition to the reputational consequences and political risks that can be used by opponents, the official has no right to enter the public service for the first three years after being prosecuted.
Persons who should have responded to Tretyak's corruption schemes during his tenure:
In fact, in the case with Tretyak, all the relevant bodies reacted, namely: NABU, Rivne District Police Department, and NAZK.
However, the court found Tretyak guilty of a corruption offense precisely because of the notorious NAZK protocol, and the case at NABU was "closed due to the lack of a criminal offense."
Sources :
The court removed the mayor of Rivne from office: details of the corruption scandal
The mayor of Rivne Tretyak was officially dismissed, the secretary became acting
"Life does not end": Tretyak commented on his removal from the post of mayor of Rivne
A report on corruption was drawn up against the mayor of Rivne - "sponsors" paid extra