The NABU and the SAPO charge Serhii Chukhrii, deputy head of the Land Relations Development Directorate of the Department of Agrarian Policy, Food, and Land Relations of the Odesa Regional State Administration, with receiving $40,000.

Under the regulations governing the Department, Chukhrii's main task was to implement state and regional policy in land relations, and his duties included preparing and organizing the drafting of documents on the disposal of state-owned land, and ensuring compliance with the law during the review of land management documentation.

According to the investigation, AP TRADING UKRAINE LLC is engaged in real estate leasing, warehousing, and trade. In order to expand its operations, the company decided to lease land plots in the Izmail District of the Odesa Region and submitted to the Odesa RMA an application for permission to develop a land management project for two plots with approximate areas of 4 hectares and 1 hectare.

The company's lawyer then began to inquire about the status of the review of the submitted documents. At that time, Chukhrii, having learned of the company's intentions, decided — according to the investigation — to use his official position to obtain an unlawful benefit. He informed the company's representatives of purported violations in the documents and demanded that they give him $60,000 in exchange for assistance in preparing the documentation, adopting the relevant orders, and ensuring the absence of obstacles.

Later, during a meeting with the lawyer in Odesa, Chukhrii stated that if the company refused to hand over the money, it would not receive a positive decision, and the land plots could be transferred to other parties. He subsequently made contact repeatedly and insisted on his demand.

During a further meeting in a car on the premises, Chukhrii again demanded $60,000, combining this with threats to refuse to approve the documents on fabricated grounds.

According to the investigation, while in a car on the premises of the Odesa RMA, Chukhrii received the first part of the unlawful benefit, in the amount of $40,000, in exchange for assistance in resolving the matter of the company obtaining permission to develop a land management project and the subsequent lease of the land plots.

His actions were classified under Article 368(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The court has currently suspended the proceedings against Chukhrii, until his discharge from military service or until the defendant has a real opportunity to take part in the court hearings.