Case description
The HACC found Dmytro Travynov, director of Avtotechtsentr LLC, guilty of receiving over $250,000 in bribes in connection with the criminal proceedings involving Ihor Shevchenko, the former acting head of the state-owned enterprise Sea Commercial Port of Chornomorsk.
According to the prosecution, Travynov collaborated with Ihor Shevchenko, head of the Chornomorsk Commercial Sea Port, to solicit bribes in exchange for endorsing a rehabilitation plan for a bankrupt private company.
European Agro Investment Ukraine LLC had leased state-owned real estate for 49 years to facilitate loading and unloading operations. Under the agreement, the tenant was required to pay monthly rent, with a portion allocated to the state budget and the remainder directed to the state-owned enterprise managing the property. However, due to significant debts, bankruptcy proceedings were initiated against the enterprise.
During the bankruptcy process, another company expressed interest in participating as an investor in the rehabilitation of the bankrupt entity. In response, Shevchenko and Travynov entered into a criminal conspiracy to solicit a bribe in exchange for facilitating the approval of the rehabilitation plan and the assignment of the right of claim.
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Travynov requested $250,000 in bribes for further transfer to Shevchenko, a condition deemed necessary for the approval of the rehabilitation plan by European Agro Investment Ukraine LLC during a creditors' meeting.
Later, at the creditors' meeting, representatives of the State Enterprise International Commercial Port of Chornomorsk voted in favor of approving the rehabilitation plan. Following this decision, the arbitration manager submitted the approved plan along with the minutes of the meeting. Shortly thereafter, Travynov received the bribe.
Travynov had been wanted since 2022, and legal proceedings against him were underway. He was later apprehended in Spain. The pre-trial investigation against Shevchenko is still ongoing.
The HACC approved the plea agreement and convicted Travynov under Article 368(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, sentencing him to 8 years in prison and imposing a one-year ban on holding senior positions in private enterprises. However, the prison sentence was suspended, with a probation period of 3 years. Travynov was also ordered to pay procedural costs totaling UAH 31,000.
As part of the plea agreement, Travynov is required to transfer 7 million UAH to the Come Back Alive Foundation and UAH 8 million for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Furthermore, he will donate seven vehicles, including MERCEDES-BENZ, VOLVO, and RENAULT KANGOO models, to the military, and transfer a land plot with a seaside townhouse in Odesa to ARMA for subsequent sale.
Moreover, Travynov is implicated in another case in which the HACC found Novichkov and Bulavchenko guilty of attempting to bribe Oksana Shubko, director of European Agro Investment Ukraine, with $424,000.
