The mayor of Kiliya has been remanded in custody with bail set at 30.6 million hryvnias
The Kyiv District Court of Odesa has extended the preventive measure of remand in custody for Vyacheslav Chernyavsky, the mayor of Kiliya, until 25 November 2026.
The mayor of Kiliya has had his remand extended in connection with a case involving a bribe of 35,000 dollars
A pre-trial investigation into extortion and corruption within local government bodies is ongoing in the Odesa region, according to ‘УСІ’, citing court documents.
According to the investigation, in early February 2026, ‘Kiliiska WPP’ Ltd submitted a request to the city council for permission to clear vegetation to make way for the construction of access roads to three wind turbines. During a face-to-face meeting with a company representative in March, the mayor allegedly demanded an unlawful benefit in return for ensuring the unhindered establishment of a commission and a favourable decision by the executive committee. The initial demand amounted to 60,000 US dollars, and the funds were to be transferred in instalments.
Law enforcement officers documented the transfer of 35,000 dollars in two instalments — in March and May 2026. To maintain secrecy, the money was transferred via currency exchange bureaux in Odesa, subsequently converted into the cryptocurrency USDT, and handled by trusted individuals. After receiving part of the funds, the executive committee passed the relevant resolution, and the mayor signed an order to remove 289 trees.
On 26 May 2026, Vyacheslav Chernyavsky was served with a notice of suspicion under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (receiving an unlawful benefit on an exceptionally large scale). The court ordered his remand in custody as a preventive measure, and on 27 October reduced the alternative bail from 41.6 million to 30.6 million hryvnias. The official himself and his defence team deny the charges, claiming that the complainant may have set him up.
Read more news on GreenPost.
