State Bureau of Investigation is investigating a corruption case against the acting mayor of Kostopil, Davyd Didukh
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is investigating a corruption case involving the acting mayor of the city of Kostopil (Rivne region), Davyd Didukh, who was elected to the city council from the party "European Solidarity".
According to the investigation, he and two of his accomplices demanded a bribe from a local businessman, demanding the transfer of a 0.38-hectare plot of land worth over 1.3 million UAH in exchange for assistance in resolving land issues and assigning addresses to real estate objects on this plot.
Didukh was detained on February 24 along with his brother, Nazar Didukh, a city council deputy, and Oleksandr Biler, the chief forest protection engineer of the Kostopil forestry. They were all detained after a private notary prepared documents for the alienation of the land.
The acting mayor and the deputies were charged under Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (receiving undue advantage by an official), which carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to 12 years with confiscation of property. Davyd Didukh posted bail in the amount of 1.3 million UAH and returned to Kostopil, stating that he is taking a vacation during the investigation.
In an interview with the local TV channel "Rivne 1", Didukh denied the charges, claiming that the money he was detained with was allegedly collected by friends. He also claims that he did not commit any illegal actions in his position and asserts that the case concerns his personal affairs.
Sources in law enforcement agencies in the Rivne region report that Didukh has many suspicions related to corruption and extortion of money from businessmen. However, in the region, he maintains a strong position thanks to his connections with the heads of the Regional State Administration and an influential Protestant community.
11 April 2025 г., 13:51
