Almost two dozen NACB detectives suspected of large-scale corruption: millions found hidden in crypto

Almost two dozen employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NACB) have been caught in a high-profile corruption scandal – their cryptocurrency declarations contain unreliable or fake data. Journalists suggest that the NACB employees are involved in fraud, hiding millions of corrupt money in crypto wallets, according to an investigation by the Ukrainian News agency.

"The results of the study of the declarations of the NACB detectives, who earn on average from UAH 100,000 per month, are stunning. In total, we found 23 declarations of "intruders" that contain mentions of cryptocurrency. In 15 (!) unreliable data was indicated, and in two more – hidden addresses of crypto wallets, which is why they cannot be verified. Judging by the detectives' declarations, it can be assumed that employees of the NACB, which was created to protect the state from corrupt officials, began to engage in fraud themselves, hiding millions of corrupt money in crypto wallets," the investigation materials say.

The journalists found the largest amount of crypto violations in the hands of senior NACB detective Oleksandr Rykovtsev: his wife allegedly purchased bitcoins worth over USD 1 million in today's prices in 2016.

"According to transaction tracking services on the Bitcoin network, no operations were carried out with this crypto wallet. Moreover, it was not registered on the Bitcoin network. No operations were carried out with the remaining BTC wallets indicated in the declaration," they noted.

Also, the Ukrainian News agency notes, senior detective Stanislav Braverman, who recently became the hero of scandalous chronicles due to intimate relations with a key witness in one of the cases he is conducting, declared cryptocurrencies for a large amount with serious violations.

"According to the declaration, Braverman purchased cryptocurrencies for UAH 1.39 million and sold them for UAH 1.32 million. It is very similar to the legalization of corrupt funds: the funds were first transferred to a non-existent wallet (no one can trace it), and then withdrawn to a card, for example. This is how more than UAH 1 million appeared out of nowhere. In addition, Braverman bought securities for more than UAH 1,270,000 during the year. That is, a person with a civil servant's salary bought virtual assets for UAH 2.5 million without batting an eye," the publication wrote.

The third on the list of violators in the journalistic investigation is senior detective Oleksandr Moyseyev, who declared the purchase of cryptocurrencies for UAH 820,000 on one day, and the next day – its sale for UAH 757,000.

"Like Braverman, it looks like the legalization of corrupt funds. Who or from whom and for what they were received – law enforcement officers and the NACP must find out. And another coincidence with the previous position of the anti-rating: Moyseyev purchased securities for UAH 2.2 million. This is with the same salary of a civil servant as of Braverman," the authors of the investigation reported.

In general, the material continues, the fakeness of Braverman's and Moyseyev's virtual assets is evidenced by the speed of their purchase and sale of cryptocurrencies. And most importantly, both of them – contrary to the NACP's requirements – do not have data on the addresses of crypto wallets.

Other participants in the anti-rating also declared funds on fake wallets – they contain amounts of up to UAH 1 million. According to investigative journalists, their cryptocurrency is waiting for its rapid growth in the future.

The authors of the investigation noted that this and a number of other scandals in recent months have finally discredited the NACB as an anti-corruption structure.

"Not only is the NACB no longer capable of fighting it (corruption – Ed.) – it looks like a structure that is slowly becoming its integral participant. If the Bureau is not put in order in the near future, its existence will pose a threat to the state, and the need for liquidation will become irreversible," the journalists conclude.

As previously reported, well-known lawyer Rostyslav Kravets called for the liquidation of the NACB, since it covers close associates who are destroying the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine. He expressed confidence that everyone involved in the so-called fight against corruption, but in fact the destruction of Ukraine's independence, will be punished.