The mayor of Sumy, Oleksandr Lysenko, received a preventive measure

The Higher Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine has taken action in the case involving Oleksandr Lysenko, the mayor of Sumy, who has been implicated in a bribery scandal alongside Oleksandr Zhurba, the head of Sumy and the director of the city's infrastructure department. The court has decided to place Oleksandr Lysenko in pre-trial detention with the option of posting bail.

According to the court's ruling, Oleksandr Lysenko will remain in custody until December 2, 2023, unless he posts bail for UAH 3 million. If he is released on bail, he must adhere to certain conditions, including appearing when summoned, staying within the city of Sumy without permission to leave, notifying the prosecutor of any change of residence, and refraining from communication with councilors of the Sumy City Council. The decision regarding the seizure of the mayor's property will be addressed separately.

In response to the allegations, Oleksandr Lysenko has vehemently denied any involvement in bribery and claims that he had no financial resources during the searches.

He stated, "I did not demand undue benefits from anyone. And today, as the hearing heard, I presented my arguments. I was not offered funds and I did not receive them. I didn't see the money, I didn't receive it and I wasn't around it. From the photo, you would think I was near the car with the money in it. But it is not true."

It's worth noting that the prosecutor's office initially sought a property guarantee in the amount of UAH 10 million from Oleksandr Lysenko.

What is known about the Oleksandr Lysenko case

The case against Oleksandr Lysenko and Oleksandr Zhurba stems from their arrest on October 2. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) jointly apprehended the two suspects while they were allegedly in the process of receiving a portion of a UAH 1.4 million bribe. According to the SBU, the suspects were demanding UAH 2,130,000 from a local garbage collection company. Both Lysenko and Zhurba have been informed of the suspicions under part 4 of Article 368.

This case has garnered significant attention and highlights ongoing efforts to combat corruption in Ukraine.