Chernyshov asked to extend his foreign trip after receiving suspicions
Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov was abroad at the time when his entourage received suspicions in a case related to a corruption scheme in the construction industry. Despite this, the high-ranking official submitted a request to extend his foreign trip, which caused quite a stir in law enforcement and political circles. According to official information received from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) in response to a request from the UP agency, Chernyshov went on a business trip from June 10 to 14, 2025, planning to visit the Czech Republic and Luxembourg via Poland and Belgium. The indicated dates coincided with the detection of suspicions against the former subordinates of the Deputy Prime Minister - former State Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development Vasyl Volodin and former advisor to the minister Maksym Horbatyuk, who are suspected of involvement in a large-scale corruption transaction that caused the country losses of over a billion hryvnias. Upon request, the NABU confirmed that Chernyshov deliberately remained abroad and decided not to return to Ukraine immediately after receiving the suspicions on the day they were announced, June 13. At the same time, according to sources in law enforcement agencies, his decision to wait was supported by intelligence, which, as they say, was actively monitoring the situation. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine had already turned to the government the day before with a request to approve another foreign trip for him - for the period from June 15 to 21 to Austria, France and Poland. Government circles suggested that intelligence could even organize special measures to ensure Chernyshov's security while he was abroad. After returning to Ukraine on June 22, the Deputy Prime Minister informed his colleagues in the Cabinet that he was returning from a business trip and politely asked not to hand him the suspicion in the morning so that he could participate in the government meeting. Immediately after that, Chernyshov visited the National Anti-Corruption Bureau to personally understand the situation that had shaken the political and legal space. During the same period, the NABU reported on his summons to take procedural actions on June 16 and 19, as well as on the intention to hand him the suspicion on June 23. However, it was on June 25 that the Deputy Prime Minister ignored the meeting of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC), referring to the "government meeting", although he was not scheduled to speak at this meeting. This has drawn additional attention to his status and the state of affairs in his participation in the investigation. In addition, it should be noted that it was on June 25 that the Supreme Court of Criminal Procedure marked the expected presentation of suspicion to Chernyshov. At this point, the proceedings conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and NABU are revealing the scale of the corruption scheme in the construction industry, where not only former but also current officials are involved in high positions. Suspicions have already been received by five people, two of whom are related to the Deputy Prime Minister: former State Secretary Volodin and former Advisor to the Minister Horbatyuk. In parallel, it is noted that about a month ago, Chernyshov was searched, and last week he himself was on a business trip abroad, which his press service officially reported as "planned trips to EU countries." However, on June 21, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Chernyshov was outside the country and should return after completing the business trip delegated to him. Sources in parliamentary and law enforcement circles report that on the eve of his arrival home, on June 22, the Deputy Prime Minister announced his return. However, on June 23, he was officially summoned to the NABU to be served with a suspicion, and on that day he appeared at the bureau, where he was charged with abuse of office. Such events emphasize the severity of the situation surrounding Chernyshov's role in this large-scale corruption case, which has already attracted the attention of not only law enforcement agencies, but also society. Analyzing the situation, political scientists and lawyers separately indicate that the development of events in this case may determine the future of the fight against corruption in the highest echelons of government and calls into question the transparency and legality of the high-ranking official's decision to remain abroad at the most crucial moments.