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Former First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleh Hladkovsky, who was earlier detained by operatives of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), was served with charge papers on October 18, 2019.

He is suspected of abuse of office and non-declaration of income. The actions of the suspect are qualified under Part 2 of Article 364 and Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The notice of suspicion was signed by the head of the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office, NABU said on its website.

The investigation revealed the ex-official had abused his official post contrary to the interests of the state in order to obtain improper advantage by PJSC Automobile Company Bogdan Motors (the suspect is beneficiary owner). In particular, the investigation believes Hladkovsky ensured the inclusion in the state defense order and the subsequent purchase from the state budget of off-road trucks MAZ 6317 (Bogdan 6317) at the inflated prices from the subsidiary enterprise "Car assembly plant No. 2," which is part of PJSC Automobile Company Bogdan Motors. Due to such actions, the state suffered damage worth over UAH 10.62 million (US$424,800).

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In addition, NABU detectives found Hladkovsky had not declared his wife's income received from her rental of elite real estate in downtown Kyiv. These are incomes in the amount of US$54,000 (in 2016), US$63,000 (in 2017), and US$47,500 (in 2018).

Currently, NABU is preparing a motion to the court to apply a preventive measure for the suspect.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered not guilty in commission of crime and cannot be a subject to criminal punishment until he or she is found guilty by the court.

As UNIAN reported earlier, on October 17, 2019, Hladkovsky was not allowed to cross out of Ukraine in the Boryspil Airport near Kyiv and was detained by NABU operatives shortly. NABU confirmed the detention, stating that Hladkovsky was being suspected of the abuse of power.

On February 25, investigative journalists with the Nashi Groshi with Denys Bihus project unveiled the first part of their probe claiming that the son of Oleh Hladkovsky, then-First Deputy Secretary of the NSDC, was allegedly involved in large-scale embezzlement scheme in defense industry.

The investigation alleged that Hladkovsky Jr. and his partners conspired with government officials to buy parts for military equipment and weapons from Russian smugglers, as well as from warehouses of the Ukrainian army. The prices of spare parts, which often failed to meet quality standards, were overestimated. In collusion with the management of Ukroboronprom, Ukraine's defense giant, products were sold to defense plants, the investigation said. Thus, the group allegedly received from Ukroboronprom at least UAH 250 million. Journalists said Hladkovsky was part of the then-president Petro Poroshenko's entourage.

On March 4, Poroshenko signed a decree dismissing Hladkovsky from the NSDC post.

The Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office opened criminal proceedings to verify millions-worth dealings in the defense sector, revealed by journalists.

On March 4, journalists unveiled a second part of their investigation into the purchase of components at inflated prices for Ukroboronprom enterprises, according to which UOP chief Pavlo Bukin and Hladkovsky allegedly received kickbacks for the supply of altimeters used in repairs of a Kazakh An-26.

On March 11, journalists published another part of the probe, according to which NABU in December 2016 had considered the contracts of Optimumspetsdetal with the Kharkiv Armored Plant to be suspicious and included the company in the list of fictitious firms, but later reversed the move. According to journalists, NABU allegedly took a bribe for such a decision.

On March 12, the State Bureau of Investigation opened proceedings on possible abuses by officials of the Prosecutor General's Office, SBU, fiscal service, and NABU in the investigation of defense fraud.

July 5 came the report that Hladkovsky took helm of Bogdan Corporation.

On July 19, Bogdan Corporation announced that Hladkovsky was out of Ukraine and therefore would not be able to report for questioning at NABU.