Ukrainian MP flees to Romania amid corruption charges
Ukrainian media report that a Ukrainian MP from the Servant of the People party (Zelensky's faction) fled to Romania to avoid a court trial. Andriy Odarchenko did not appear for the scheduled hearing on September 18, and the next day, he reportedly crossed the border into Romania.
8:01 AM EDT, September 25, 2024
Odarchenko, a Servant of the People party member, is accused of bribing a senior official. A Romanian source close to the matter informs that the deputy crossed the border in the Suceava region on September 19.
Last year, the politician was charged with corruption. He allegedly offered a bribe to the head of the State Agency for Reconstruction and Infrastructure Development in exchange for funds to renovate a university where he was the rector. On September 18, the deputy did not appear in court without prior notice.
Escape to Romania
According to the portal Ukrainian Pravda, which cites a statement by the prosecutor in court, the 45-year-old Odarchenko "crossed the border into Romania outside the border crossing and even approached the local state institutions with an asylum request."
Earlier, he allegedly handed over his cell phones to his driver and instructed him to plug them into a charger. Since then, the driver has had no contact with him.
The Anti-Corruption Court has sentenced the MP in absentia. They also secured 15 billion hryvnias (about 365 million dollars) previously paid on behalf of Odarchenko.
Increasing number of illegal border crossings
Information provided by Romanian border guards indicates that approximately 9,500 Ukrainians illegally crossed into Romania in the first eight months of this year.
Changes in mobilization regulations have increased the number of illegal crossings. Men of conscription age are escaping across the Tisza River or mountains, and some are crossing the Dniester River into Moldova.
