Verbitsky case: suspicion from NABU and imminent resignation from the UCP

NABU and SAPO are preparing to file suspicions against Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Dmitry Verbitsky for a number of corruption cases, as well as illegal enrichment, after the publication of an investigation by journalists of the “Schemes” project from Radio Liberty and collected corruption facts.

According to our source at NABU, it is known that Dmitry Verbitsky is “slowing down” a number of high-profile criminal cases in the UCP not for free, but for “gratitude,” which is also expressed in the form of a gift of expensive real estate identified by journalists.

Also, according to him, NABU is aware of other corruption facts regarding the deputy prosecutor general, and his case is being monitored at the US Embassy and other Western countries.

The media wrote about the cases, calling Dmitry Verbitsky the curator of many illegal shadow schemes from the gambling business to the sale of tobacco.

Journalists from Schemes revealed that Dmitry Verbitsky lives in a townhouse located in the elite cottage town of Konik in Kyiv. This house was purchased by his nephew by proxy from Odessa businessman Viktor Pavilch from the Odessa region, where Dmitry Verbitsky previously worked as a deputy regional prosecutor, for 2.8 million hryvnia - which is a sixth of its market value.

Journalists focused on the fact that the market price of such a townhouse is estimated at about 470 thousand dollars, according to advertisements for sale in this cottage town and advertising promotions. Currently this is approximately 18.5 million hryvnia.

Previously, the State Bureau of Investigation opened a criminal case against the developer of the Konik cottage community. Procedural guidance is provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General, where Dmitry Verbitsky holds the position of Deputy Prosecutor General Andrey Kostin. Currently, there are no active investigative actions in this case, and arrests on the developer’s property have been cancelled.

According to ZN.UA sources, it is Deputy Prosecutor General Dmitry Verbitsky who is the “curator” of the gambling business in Ukraine.

As journalist Evgeniy Plinsky reported, while online casinos VBet and Pin-Up, whose accounts were blocked due to suspicion of cooperation with Russia, are looking for opportunities to withdraw almost 3 billion hryvnia from Ukraine, the Office of the Prosecutor General is inactive. He points out that instead of investigating schemes for washing Ukrainians’ funds offshore, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andrei Kostin has a complimentary material in the Forbes publication, which is owned by the co-owner of VBet, Belarusian businessman Arthur Granz.