SBI is investigating legality of MP's trip to Maldives during war (VIDEO)

SBI employees in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine are investigating the legality of the MP's holiday trip during the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine.

On 25 July 2023, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine initiated criminal proceedings based on the materials of the State Bureau of Investigation and information spread in the media regarding the false data entered into documents for travelling abroad by the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence.

As part of the investigation, the Bureau's detectives are looking into how the MP managed to go on holiday in the Maldives despite the ban on travelling abroad for officials.

In particular, they will examine the possibility of knowingly entering false information into official documents about his departure, in particular, regarding the duration, purpose and countries of his business trip.

It was established that in mid-July 2023, the MP was staying in a hotel on the private island of Ithaafushi, Maldives.

Thus, the investigation confirmed that between 05 June and 22 July 2023, he was outside Ukraine. The MP travelled to Poland for three days on a business trip to deepen bilateral cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.

On 10 July 2023, while abroad, the MP remotely opened a sick leave in one of the private medical institutions in Kyiv until 19 July 2023 inclusive. At the same time, inaccurate information was probably entered into the electronic healthcare system, as no medical examination was actually carried out.

Law enforcement officers conducted urgent searches in the deputy's apartment. Among other things, they seized passports for travelling abroad with relevant stamps and other documents.

The criminal proceedings are being investigated over forgery in office (Part 1 Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction of the article provides for restriction of liberty for up to 3 years.

Procedural control is carried out by the Prosecutor General's Office.