The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine has delivered a verdict against Member of Parliament Liudmyla Marchenko in a bribery case.

The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine (HACC) has delivered a guilty verdict against Member of Parliament Liudmyla Marchenko and her assistant, Anastasiia Kolesnyk, in a high-profile bribery case.

According to the court’s decision, both defendants were sentenced to two years of imprisonment, along with a three-year ban on holding certain public offices. The verdict was issued by a panel of judges comprising Nataliia Movchan, Olha Salandiak, and Volodymyr Voronko.

Case Background

Prosecutors argued that Marchenko, acting in collusion with her assistant, received an unlawful benefit of $11,000 in exchange for facilitating the illegal departure of men abroad. The scheme allegedly involved the misuse of Ukraine’s “Shliakh” system, which allows certain categories of individuals to cross the border during martial law.

Defense Position

In her final statement before the court, Marchenko emphasized the importance of her charitable activities, particularly her foundation’s work supporting children. She expressed regret over the reputational damage caused to the organization but denied intentional wrongdoing.

Marchenko also claimed that the situation was the result of provocation by law enforcement authorities, suggesting that she would not have engaged in such actions under normal circumstances.

What Happens Next

The verdict has not yet entered into legal force. It may be appealed within 30 days, and if no appeal is filed, the decision will become final after that period.

This ruling marks another significant step in Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption among public officials, reinforcing the principle of accountability regardless of political status.