"Sluga Naroda" MP’s assistant caught spying for Russia

A Ukrainian MP’s assistant is suspected of passing on information about the state's defence capabilities to the Russian Federal Security Service in exchange for money.

Source: Prosecutor General's Office website, Ukrainska Pravda sources in law enforcement agencies

Details: An assistant to a Ukrainian MP from the "Sluga Naroda" (Servant of the People) faction is suspected of treason, i.e. intentional assistance to a foreign representative in carrying out subversive activities against the defence, state, and economic security of Ukraine.

This person was a volunteer assistant to Yuriy Zdebskyy, the MP.

The suspect collected and transferred information on the defence, state, economic and informational security of Ukraine to the Russian Federal Security Service in exchange for money from October 2014 to February 2022, according to the investigation.

He personally compiled analytical reports on the economic, state and social situation in Ukraine, the relationship between the political forces represented in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, according to the template established by the special services’ supervisor.

In addition, the materials he compiled concerned the provision of economic and defence assistance to Ukraine by Western partners using analytical reports of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, which he received in response to requests as a Ukrainian people’s deputy (MP). 

Quote:  "During the entire period of his criminal activity, the suspect received about $80,000 from the Russian Federal Security Service . He was detained and taken into custody in accordance with the provisions of Article 615 of the Ukrainian Code of Criminal Procedure for 30 days."

Correction: The original text of the article stated that this person worked as "The Opposition Platform" MP’s assistant. However, the party denied this and Ukrainska Pravda sources said that the person in question was an assistant to the "Sluga Naroda" (Servant of the People) MP