Parliament revises Ukrainian bill allowing corrupt officials to avoid jail

The committee has agreed to include a crucial provision in the bill: only individuals who fully compensate for the material damage caused and actively cooperate with the investigation—by helping to hold co-conspirators accountable—will be eligible for this "buyout" option.

"This means not just a fine or buyout, but full restitution and the identification of other accomplices as conditions for applying the plea deal," Stefanchuk said. "This will not apply to all crimes."

Stefanchuk acknowledged that "blatantly absurd legislative proposals" have always existed in the Parliament and are a normal part of parliamentary processes.

"No one can limit the legislative initiative of individuals in implementing their ideas and views," he said. "There have been many such frankly absurd proposals, including initiatives to install exercise bikes for electricity generation and bills about celebrating April Fool's."

"Buyout" for corruption bill background

Ukrainian Parliament passed the bill No. 11340 in the first reading with 231 votes on July 18. The bill proposes amendments to the conditions for plea deals in corruption cases, removing the requirement to expose accomplices and allowing such agreements for organizers of large-scale corruption schemes.

David Arakhamia, head of the ruling Servant of the People party, said that the plea deal provision for corruption offenses was part of the Ukraine Facility Plan — a program for multi-year financial assistance to Ukraine from the EU, totaling EUR 50 billion ($54 billion). Arakhamia said that the version voted on was proposed by the government.