Member of Parliament Anna Skorokhod has been released from the detention center after a bail of 3 million 28 thousand hryvnias was posted. Her lawyer Oleg Burgela reported that the funds were paid by third parties on December 12, but their names are not disclosed. The lawyer emphasized that this money does not belong to Skorokhod herself.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Trial Process and Appeal of the Preventive Measure
After her release from custody, Anna Skorokhod is in Kyiv under the control of an electronic bracelet. Her lawyer has already filed an appeal regarding the chosen preventive measure, arguing that there are no grounds for applying an electronic bracelet to the MP. He noted:
“We understand that the bail will remain, as the pre-trial investigation is ongoing, but we will ask to reduce the amount. We also see no sense in the electronic bracelet: as a member of parliament, Skorokhod is not restricted in her movement within Ukraine.”
On December 15, the High Anti-Corruption Court is set to consider the issue of seizing Anna Skorokhod’s property.
Circumstances of the Criminal Case and the Suspect’s Position
On December 9, the High Anti-Corruption Court determined a preventive measure for Skorokhod in the form of bail. A few days earlier, on December 5, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine announced her suspicion under the Criminal Code regarding the offer, promise, or provision of unlawful benefits to a public official. According to the investigation, Skorokhod led a criminal group that allegedly attempted to organize the imposition of sanctions by the National Security and Defense Council on a competitor’s company for 250 thousand US dollars. In addition to the MP, her assistant and accomplice were also charged.
Anna Skorokhod herself confirmed that after the searches at her residence on December 5, she received a suspicion in the bribery case. She assured that the money seized during the investigative actions does not belong to her and accused the NABU of “manipulation” and publishing “fake photos.”
In 2019, Anna Skorokhod was a member of the “Servant of the People” faction in the Verkhovna Rada, but she was later expelled from the faction due to votes that contradicted the party’s position.