«Certain people wanted to stir up hype»: Bashtanka mayor released on bail and says he is innocent

Bashtanka mayor Oleksandr Berehovoi is released from the pre-trial detention centre on bail of 1.1 million hryvnias. Photo from the Facebook page

The mayor of Bashtanka, Oleksandr Berehovyi, who is suspected of embezzling funds for the purchase of clothing for the military, has been released from a pre-trial detention centre. He was released on bail of 1.1 million hryvnias.

This information was confirmed to NikVesti by the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

The office noted that the mayor was released from the pre-trial detention centre the day after the court's decision to arrest him on 3 September.

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In a comment to a correspondent of NikVesti, Oleksandr Berehovyi said that his wife, Yelyzaveta Berehova, had posted bail for him. The mayor also noted that he was not currently suspended from his position, but plans to take a 30-day leave of absence to avoid arousing suspicion of possible influence on the investigation. During his leave, his deputies will perform his duties.

«No, I have not been suspended, but I plan to take a leave of absence for a period of up to 30 days so that no one can say that I influenced anyone later. I have two deputies. I have a secretary, so in fact, the city council will not lose anything,» said Oleksandr Berehovyi.

At the same time, Oleksandr Berehovyi does not admit his guilt in this case and considers it fabricated against him.

«It's all a bit of a sham. It was the end of 2022, the warehouses were empty, the guys were fighting in summer uniforms. The commander of the military unit appealed. The guys received winter uniforms for the whole winter, they were warm and well, defending our borders. And the fact that they thought up, that someone had something, no later than a certain date.... Ordered by Bloshko (referring to activist Igor Bloshko, — note), paid for... Well, some people wanted to stir up hype. But I'm sorry, our council allocated 61 million for the Armed Forces during this period. I have travelled to the combat zone many times, and the guys from the 3rd Assault Brigade came to visit me. A lot of brigades and combatants are supporting them. The fact that in our country now a hero can be turned into a thief, and a thief into a hero, is, of course, a little sad,» commented Oleksandr Berehovyi.

It is now known that the mayor is suspected of embezzlement, but he believes that he is not responsible for this, as the decision to allocate funds was approved by the deputy corps. He adds that there is no personal fault in this, nor the fault of the deputies.

«There will be a lot of interesting things to come, because certain facts will become known that I don't want to disclose and go on air now, to explain anything to people. I don't see the point, because they have distorted everything possible. But we have evidence that neither I, nor our council, nor our deputies are really to blame. Although I did not allocate the money, the council and deputies did. There are a number of people involved in all this. How can I be responsible for what someone else has done? It's all very complicated. When we announce and show people the evidence, I think many people will be shocked that an innocent man has been made a criminal for the whole of Ukraine. I am the only mayor in Ukraine who defended his city with arms. I am the only one in Ukraine, without the Armed Forces, who organised, fought and still help the guys on the front line, and a lot of organisations, and for the premises,» he added.

It should be noted that during the first court hearing, the mayor of Bashtanka, Oleksandr Berehovyi, felt unwell.

The fact that the mayor of Bashtanka, Oleksandr Berehovyi, was served with a notice of suspicion was announced on 19 August by Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. He is suspected of embezzling 1.2 million hryvnias for the purchase of clothing for military personnel. If found guilty, he faces 7 to 12 years in prison.