Case description
The NABU and the SAPO accuse businessman Oleksii Bilenkyi of organizing a scheme to supply products to Ukrzaliznytsia at inflated prices.
According to the investigation, in 2015, businessman Oleksii Bilenkyi allegedly turned to MP Valerii Ishchenko with a request to help organize a scheme for the supply of hardware products (metal fasteners) to Ukrzaliznytsia. The prices were twice as high, and the employees of the UZ were to conclude a contract with a previously determined company.
To implement the scheme, former MP Ishchenko turned to his advisor Beilin with a request to influence the officials of SE Ukrzaliznychpostach. UZ suffered of UAH 41.4 million losses from such actions.
Oleksii Bilenkyi, Valerii Ishchenko, and Mykhailo Beilin were indicted under Article 191(5) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Bilenkyi was also additionally incriminated under Article 212(3), Article 366(1), and Article 209(3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
However, plea agreements were concluded between Bilenkyi and the prosecution. The defense stated that he was willing to cooperate with the prosecutor. Bilenkyi’s actions were initially classified as those of an organizer, but before the plea agreement was concluded, they were reclassified as aiding and abetting.
Back in August 2016, Bilenkyi left the territory of Ukraine with his wife and has not returned since then. The defendant also acquired Bulgarian citizenship and has a certificate of permanent residence in Austria, which he himself confirmed during the court session. The defendant informed the court that he is currently residing in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he works at a law firm.
For a long time, Bilenkyi failed to appear at court hearings, and special proceedings were conducted in his absence. He joined the most recent hearings only via video conference. He explained that he could not attend in person due to various reasons related to his health and the ongoing military actions in Ukraine. The court granted the motion allowing Bilenkyi to participate in the hearing via video conference and continued the trial under the general procedure.
Under the plea agreement, the parties agreed that Bilenkyi would be sentenced to five years of imprisonment, with a three-year ban on holding certain positions and a fine of UAH 18,000, without confiscation of property. The parties also agreed that he would be released on probation. In addition, Bilenkyi undertook to transfer UAH 8 million to a special account to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine within six months after the verdict enters into force.
It is worth noting that the court has not yet issued a ruling on Bilenkyi’s plea agreement.
