The Mystery of the Investigation: The Office of the Prosecutor General Refuses to Release the Results of Investigations into Former Deputy Dmitry Verbytsky
The Office of the Prosecutor General has rejected a request from the editorial staff of UA.NEWS for copies of the findings of internal investigations concerning former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi. The office stated that the disclosure of this information could harm the NABU investigation into the former official’s illicit enrichment. NABU itself has so far remained silent regarding the progress of the investigation into the scandal-plagued former prosecutor.
Main reasons for the refusal
The document notes that in 2024, the General Inspectorate conducted two internal investigations into possible violations of anti-corruption legislation by Verbytskyi. However, the materials were classified as “For Official Use Only” (DSK). The Office of the Prosecutor General explained the refusal by citing the secrecy of the investigation: the materials from the inspections were transferred to NABU as early as July 2024 at their request. Since they are part of criminal proceeding No. 52024000000000231 (illegal enrichment), their disclosure without the investigator’s permission is prohibited under Article 222 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
Additionally, the Office of the Prosecutor General applied a “three-part test,” concluding that the harm from disclosing the secrecy of the pre-trial investigation could outweigh the public interest in obtaining the information at this time.
The agency emphasized that it has no information regarding the completion of the investigation or permission from SAPO prosecutors or NABU detectives to release the documents.
The Context of the Dmytro Verbytsky Case
As a reminder, Dmytro Verbytskyi was dismissed from his position as Deputy Prosecutor General in 2024 following a high-profile corruption scandal. Journalistic investigations and monitoring by the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) indicated that his lifestyle was inconsistent with his official income.
The UA.NEWS editorial team attempted to obtain copies of the findings of the internal investigations, the NABU request, and the accompanying letter to ensure transparency in a case that has significant public resonance. Previously, the publication’s sources also reported on Verbytskyi’s alleged financial ties to the Batkivshchyna party in the context of the case involving Yulia Tymoshenko.
Currently, the UA.NEWS editorial team is considering appealing this response in accordance with Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine “On Access to Public Information.”
Previously, UA.NEWS received a response from the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine to its inquiry to the NACP regarding the application of enhanced financial monitoring to former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi as a “politically exposed person” (PEP).
The response stated that Verbytskyi retained the status of “public figure” for at least one year after his dismissal from office.
Additionally, the UA.NEWS editorial team submitted a follow-up journalistic inquiry to the Khadzhibey (formerly Malynovsky) District Military Registration and Enlistment Office and the Joint Staff of the City of Odesa regarding Dmytro Verbytskyi’s military registration. Despite his status as a national public figure and the official announcement from the Office of the Prosecutor General regarding his dismissal, information regarding whether he underwent a medical examination or received a deferment remains classified.
