Ternopil official Holovko, suspected of corruption, returns to work

Espreso reports the information.

“On August 21, Mykhailo Holovko, the head of the Ternopil Regional Council, returned to work despite ongoing investigations and wearing an ankle bracelet, as he is suspected of taking a bribe totaling UAH 2.4 million,” according to the report.

During Holovko's absence, his first deputy carried out his responsibilities.

Background

Back on June 26, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) arrested Mykhailo Holovko, the chairperson of the Ternopil Regional Council, along with two deputy heads of the Ternopil Military-Civil Administration, for allegedly accepting bribes. On that day, NABU investigators confiscated 600,000 hryvnias from Mykhailo Holovko, and the total bribe amount was UAH 2.4 million.

The following day, it was reported that items resembling explosives were discovered during searches in the office of Mykhailo Holovko, the Ternopil Regional Council chairperson.

Mykhailo Holovko's wife, as well as sports journalist and politician Ihor Miroshnychenko, responded to his arrest by NABU.

On June 28, the High Anti-Corruption Court imposed preventive measures on Mykhailo Holovko, along with deputy heads, Ihor Demyanchuk and Ihor Hayduk.

Mykhailo Holovko was released from custody on June 29, after posting bail of more than UAH 805,000.

He returned to work on July 3 and held his first press conference after the arrest.

SAP appealed against the preventive measures for Holovko and deputy heads on July 4.

Mykhailo Holovko took sick leave on July 7, and on August 3, the appellate chamber of the Higher Anti-Corruption Court deemed the seizure of his funds unlawful.

On August 7, the appellate chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court declined to remove Mykhailo Holovko from his position as the chairperson of the Ternopil Regional Council.