In Kyiv, a city official was exposed for attempting to conceal a large-scale violation of land legislation
The official demanded $15,000 from a business representative for "silence" and continued lease of land. The incident occurred in the capital, and law enforcement agencies have already launched an investigation. The well-known public servant may soon face trial. According to data from the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office and the National Police, Artem Lysenko, a 30-year-old inspector from the Department of Land Resources of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA), responsible for monitoring land use and protection, was detained while accepting an illegal bribe. An informed source close to the investigation reported that the incident took place in the Desnianskyi district of the city, where the official, abusing his position, offered a businessperson a way to "resolve" issues related to the lease of a land plot exceeding 1,200 square meters. The violation was uncovered during the investigation concerning land that was publicly owned and previously leased under a ten-year agreement. According to this contract, the lessee was supposed to use the land solely for creating a green zone, without constructing buildings or fences. However, during the inspection, law enforcement officers discovered that the contract was no longer being honored: on this land, a building, a football field, and a parking lot had appeared. Upon discovering the violation, the inspector decided to "resolve" the situation and intentionally offered the businessman to "keep quiet" about the breach to enable him to obtain a permit for the lease extension. For this service, he demanded $15,000 from the business representative—an amount the investigators seized during the transfer. During the arrest, the money was confiscated, providing clear evidence of extortion. Currently, law enforcement agencies are working on selecting a preventive measure for the suspect. The official faces not only criminal charges for corruption and fraud but also the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence for abuse of official authority, including illegal interference in land use processes in Kyiv. Preliminary investigative actions are ongoing, and the public is actively discussing the case, which has become a vivid example of systemic issues within government structures—issues that continue to be a source of corruption abuses. This incident serves as a reminder of the need to strengthen oversight and increase transparency in land-related matters in the capital and throughout the country. Photos from the scene and documents seized during the search have already been published by law enforcement agencies and the Prosecutor's Office. It is expected that this case will generate significant public resonance and become a catalyst for intensified anti-corruption efforts in Kyiv, as well as highlight systemic deficiencies in the work of land management authorities.