"Batkivshchyna" on the former prosecutor under investigation by the NACP: Yulia Tymoshenko is being asked to explain the controversial Verbytsky's membership in the party
The editorial staff of the online media outlet UA.NEWS has received official confirmation that former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi, who is a subject of NABU investigations into illicit enrichment, has joined the political party “All-Ukrainian Union ‘Batkivshchyna’.” In light of this, journalists sent a request to party leader Yulia Tymoshenko asking her to explain the ethical criteria for selecting party members.
Party membership despite criminal proceedings
As the editorial team has learned, the Odesa regional branch of “Batkivshchyna” has officially confirmed Dmytro Verbytskyi’s membership in the party. In response to previous inquiries, the Odesa branch noted that the party’s charter contains no restrictions for individuals with “relevant professional experience,” effectively ignoring a series of corruption scandals surrounding the former prosecutor and the existence of a criminal proceeding by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU).
As a reminder, Dmytro Verbytskyi was dismissed from the Office of the Prosecutor General following high-profile media investigations into his assets (real estate, Porsche cars, assets in Turkey), the value of which significantly exceeds his official income. He is currently a suspect in cases of illicit enrichment (Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) being investigated by NABU and obstruction of journalists’ professional activities (Part 3 of Article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) under investigation by the National Police.
Questions for the party leader
UA.NEWS reached out directly to Yulia Tymoshenko with key questions:
- On reputation: Does the party have criteria regarding ethics and integrity for new members?
- On connections: Is the party leadership aware of Verbytskyi’s close relationship with the head of Odesa’s “Batkivshchyna,” Dmytro Zheman, and their joint activities?
- On expulsion: Will the issue of expelling Verbytsky from the party be considered in light of the open criminal proceedings and public outcry?
Editorial Position
The UA.NEWS editorial board believes that the inclusion of individuals with a toxic reputation in the ranks of parliamentary parties during wartime is a challenge for society. We demand a clear answer from the central leadership of “Batkivshchyna”: is it standard practice for the party to accept as members citizens who are under investigation for corruption crimes?
“The law is the same for everyone, and a party membership card cannot serve as a cover to avoid accountability,” the editorial team emphasizes.
Earlier, UA.NEWS received a response from the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine to its inquiry to the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) regarding the application of enhanced financial monitoring to former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi as a “politically exposed person” (PEP).
It has been two years since former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi should have had his status changed from witness to suspect. On May 13, 2024, NABU opened criminal case No. 52024000000000231 under the article on illegal enrichment (Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) following high-profile exposés by Radio Liberty and the Schemes program. However, the case remains at the pre-trial investigation stage without any preventive measures having been announced.
