The SBU detained the head of the Odessa cell of Vitaliy Klitschko's UDAR party for bribery

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained the head of the Odessa cell of Vitaliy Klitschko's UDAR party, Oleksandr Sukhanov, for a bribe of $1m, the agency's Telegram channel reported on 25 December.

There noted that the officers of the service liquidated the criminal scheme of the Kyiv city state administration (KSCA).

"Detained the head of one of the regional centers of a well-known party, demanding a bribe of $1 million from a private entrepreneur", - indicated in the SBU.

Detailed information about the identity of the detainee the security service does not disclose, but the publication "Ukrainska Pravda" claims that it is the head of the cell of the party "UDAR Vitali Klitschko" Sukhanov.

According to the investigation, Sukhanov promised to "solve a land issue" that a businessman had with KSCA officials for $1m. It is specified that Sukhanov was detained when he received an "advance payment" of $900 thousand.

The head of the cell of the party is suspected of committing crimes under part 5 of article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ("Fraud committed on a large scale or by an organized group"). The article provides for punishment of up to 12 years in prison.

Earlier, on 18 December, the SBU reported about planned counterintelligence measures in the government quarter of Kiev. According to the service, the events are held jointly with the state protection department, the national police and the military law enforcement service. It was reported that because of the event, there might be restrictions on passage and travel through the streets of Kiev, as well as checks of documents and cars.