Bribes in bitcoins: the case of former MP Andrii Odarchenko

Case description

The NABU and the SAPO accuse MP Andrii Odarchenko of trying to bribe Mustafa Nayyem, the then Chairman of the State Agency for Restoration, with bitcoins to get money from the Remediation Fund. 

In this case, anti-corruption authorities documented for the first time a bribe in cryptocurrency. According to the investigation, Andrii Odarchenko, member of the Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy, offered Mustafa Nayyem a bribe in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency in August 2023, equivalent to USD 50,000.

In exchange for this amount, Nayyem was supposed to facilitate the allocation of funds from the Remediation Fund for the repair of the university buildings, where Odarchenko continues to hold the position of rector (the contract is currently suspended due to his election as an MP).

As soon as the money was allocated from the fund, Mustafa Nayyem received bitcoins equivalent to USD 10,000 to his crypto wallet. The official, however, reported the bribery attempt to the NABU and became a whistleblower in the case.

When choosing an interim measure for Odarchenko, the prosecutor read out the recordings of the conversations with Odarchenko. These recordings showed that the MP allegedly had loyal people around the world. He also said that it was time for Ukraine to negotiate with Russia and cede Crimea, as well as Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Odarchenko's actions are qualified under Article 369(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.