The Odesa regional prosecutor's office has charged the head of a village council in the Bolgrad district with obtaining and demanding illegal benefits by influencing a decision made by a person authorized to perform state or local government functions (Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, the official demanded from the head of a local company 12,000 USD for assistance in allocating four agricultural land plots, each covering 50 hectares.

In exchange for this money, he promised to influence the village council deputies to pass a resolution regarding the sale of rights to the plots, which would then be transferred to the company.

The mayor was arrested after receiving an advance payment of 3,000 USD. He has since been placed in custody with an alternative for bail and has been suspended from his position.

Measures to uncover the criminal activity were carried out by prosecutors from the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office in conjunction with investigators from the Main Department of the National Police in Odesa, with operational support from the UCR in Odesa.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict.