Case description
The NABU and the SAPO suspect Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov, businessman Volodymyr Halanternyk, and several others of embezzling UAH 689 million in Odesa.
According to the investigation, members of a criminal group, in collusion with officials from the Odesa City Council, orchestrated a scheme to misappropriate public funds and municipal land, which was subsequently allocated for development projects. The total losses are estimated at UAH 689 million.
NABU claims the group obtained development rights to municipal land without undergoing any competitive procedures. Initially, the land was allocated to state agencies or municipal enterprises for permanent use, but was then almost immediately transferred to specific construction companies affiliated with Halanternyk, presumably for further development.
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The developers allegedly paid real money to the criminal organization under so-called "gentlemen’s agreements," while the city council passed resolutions allowing the use of these land plots almost for free. The prosecutor emphasizes that the city budget did not receive any compensation.
As a result, the defendants took control of six land plots in Odesa located on Arkadiiske Plato (Haharinske Plato), Varnenska, Zhabotynskoho, and Akademichna Streets. On these sites, they built the Sea View and Altair-3 residential complexes, as well as the Sea Residence apartment complex.
In another episode, according to investigators, Halanternyk and affiliated law firms acquired properties allegedly for the expansion of the Western cemetery. Although the community did indeed require this expansion, the actual events played out differently. The city council authorized the buyout of buildings and structures, but not the land itself. Nevertheless, experts unlawfully inflated the valuation of the land rights to about UAH 146 million. The buyout contract included the cost of land use rights that did not belong to the seller, Odesa Airlines LLC.
In addition to the aforementioned individuals, 16 others are implicated in the case. Among them are Vasyl Shkriabai, chair of the city council’s standing committee; Inna Popovska, head of the city council’s legal department; her deputy Volodymyr Radionov; and acting deputy mayor of Odesa, Oleh Bryndak — all of whom have been served notices of suspicion.
The suspects are charged under Article 255, Part 1 and Article 364, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The case has been referred to court.
