Ukrainian MP Andriy Odarchenko sentenced to 8 years for attempted bribery

The court did not publicly disclose the name of the official involved, but Transparency International Ukraine identified the individual as Odarchenko, a fugitive lawmaker. According to the group, Odarchenko attempted to bribe former State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development head Mustafa Nayyem with bitcoin.

The court found Odarchenko guilty of committing an offense under Part 4 of Article 369 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which covers offering or promising a bribe to a public official. Under Ukrainian law, Odarchenko’s sentence can be appealed within 30 days.

The case of Andriy Odarchenko

Odarchenko, a lawmaker from the ruling Servant of the People party, was formally charged with attempting to bribe Nayyem, then head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, on Nov. 21, 2023. Reports indicate that Odarchenko allegedly offered Nayyem cryptocurrency in exchange for facilitating the allocation of funds from Ukraine’s post-conflict recovery fund to repair buildings at a university where Odarchenko serves as rector.

Odarchenko was initially detained but was later released on bail, with a bond set at 15 million hryvnias ($363,920), after surrendering his international travel documents.

In September 2024, when Odarchenko was due to appear for questioning, SAPO prosecutors reported that the lawmaker had left Ukraine unlawfully. Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) subsequently issued a statement indicating that Odarchenko had left the country illegally.

The Ukrainian court declared him wanted both nationally and internationally on Sept. 19. In October, Odarchenko appeared for an anti-graft court hearing via video link, claiming he was forced to leave Ukraine "due to health risks."