Case description
The NABU and SAPO suspect Kyiv City Council members and Kyiv City State Administration officials of involvement in a scheme to illegally privatize land in the capital for development.
The suspects in the case include:
● Denys Komarnytskyi – alleged head of a criminal organization, former co-chair of the Leonid Chernovetskyi Bloc faction in the KCC;
● Petro Olenych – Deputy Head of the KCSA;
● Mykhailo Terentiev – Chair of the KCC Standing Committee on Architecture, Urban Planning, and Land Relations; Olena Marchenko – Member of the same committee, as well as current KCC members;
● the first deputy and deputy directors of municipal enterprises;
● four other individuals.
According to the investigation, in 2020–2024, the defendants exploited the so-called "toilet scheme" (a common tactic involving the fake registration of small structures like WCs or other insignificant, non-existent buildings on land plots). These fictitious structures were then used to claim ownership, allowing the suspects to submit applications to the city council for property rights without undergoing open auctions.
KCC and KCSA officials facilitated the approval of these decisions in exchange for bribes in the form of money and real estate. The process was tightly controlled by the scheme’s organizers: the “right” people were granted land effortlessly, while others encountered artificial obstacles and were forced to seek “assistance” from members of the criminal group.
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Komarnytskyi allegedly exerted substantial influence over internal processes in both the KCC and KCSA — from appointing loyal personnel to key positions and dismissing unwanted officials to distributing proceeds among the participants. He maintained connections with influential figures, including Olenych and Terentiev.
According to audio recordings released by NABU, Komarnytskyi allegedly claimed in one conversation that he had "secured a majority" in the Kyiv City Council, citing the example of the council secretary position. As a result, the decision-making center for land issues shifted from the official building on Khreshchatyk to another location, where top city officials “settled matters” behind closed doors.
These actions allegedly led to the unlawful seizure of central Kyiv land worth UAH 11.6 million. Thanks to swift action by law enforcement, the illegal takeover of six additional plots, totaling UAH 83.7 million, was prevented.
In addition, investigators uncovered an attempt to pressure a private firm into ceasing its legitimate operations of leasing and selling premises in Kyiv to seize the company’s land for future development. Law enforcement documented an offer of a $100,000 bribe to a member of the land commission and a KCC member to promote the interests of the criminal group.
The suspects’ actions are classified under Article 255(2) and Article 191(5) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
According to the NABU, Komarnytskyi is hiding in Ukraine and has been declared wanted. Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the KCSA Olenych has been suspended from his position.
