The lawyer convinced his client, a military servicemember, that the problem could not be resolved without a bribe, and promised to reach an agreement with officials from the State Bureau of Investigation, the Territorial Military Command, and the military unit. The suspect was detained in the Berehove district while receiving a second payment of $5,000.
The Transcarpathian Regional Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment with the court against a Transcarpathian lawyer who decided to profit at the expense of a military servicemember. In exchange for payment in foreign currency, the lawyer guaranteed the closure of criminal proceedings regarding the unauthorized absence from his unit (AU) and the fraudulent processing of his discharge from service.
The Transcarpathian Regional Prosecutor’s Office and the Lviv Territorial Office of the State Bureau of Investigation announced the completion of the investigation and the transfer of the case to the judicial authorities.
Psychological pressure and the promise to “work things out” with everyone
As established by SBI investigators, in early 2026, a soldier who had previously deserted his military unit sought legal assistance from a lawyer. The soldier was looking for legal ways to resolve the issue with the criminal proceedings and the discharge process:
- Extortion instead of defense: the attorney convinced his client that it was impossible to resolve the issue within the legal framework, and that without money, a real and severe prison sentence awaited him;
- Influence peddling for $9,000: for a comprehensive “solution” to the problems, the suspect demanded 9,000 U.S. dollars, assuring the client that he had personal corrupt connections within the regional office of the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR), the recruitment center (TCC and SP), and among the unit’s command.
The handover of the suspicious documents and the finale in the Berehove district
The lawyer divided his corruption scheme into two stages:
- First stage ($4,000): The lawyer took the money ostensibly to halt criminal prosecution by the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) and remove the soldier from the wanted list, after which he provided the client with suspicious documents purporting to confirm the suspension of the investigation;
- Second stage ($5,000): he demanded this amount for the final processing of demobilization through officials at the Territorial Military Commissariat, promising to enter false data into the “Oberig” electronic registry of conscripts and to secure a discharge order.
In May 2026, in the Berehove district, operatives and investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) caught the lawyer red-handed—right as the client was handing over the second installment of $5,000.
Charges and Penalties
The indictment was filed with the court under the following charges:
- Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—extorting and receiving an unlawful benefit for oneself or a third party by influencing the decision-making of a person authorized to perform state functions.
The penalty under the charged article provides for imprisonment for a term of 3 to 8 years with confiscation of property.
The pretrial investigation was conducted by investigators of the State Bureau of Investigation’s Lviv Territorial Office under the procedural supervision of the Transcarpathian and Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Offices.
The Zakarpattia Herald reminds readers that, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of a crime and may not be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction.
Source: Transcarpathian Regional Prosecutor’s Office
