An ex-MP and his sons have been exposed for continuing to conduct business in the temporarily occupied territories.

Law enforcement officials have uncovered a former member of the Ukrainian Parliament of the IV convocation, who previously served as the First Deputy Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration, along with his sons. Following the temporary occupation of the Luhansk region, they continued to conduct business in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) and paid taxes to the Russian budget.

According to the National Police press service, this information has been reported.

As stated by law enforcement, in order to operate their business and generate profits after the Russian military's occupation of Luhansk in 2022, the individuals involved, leveraging connections within the occupying authorities and utilizing controlled entities, registered companies under Russian law and continued to engage in the cultivation and sale of agricultural products.

The controlled companies not only pay taxes to the Russian budget but also receive financial assistance through state programs, including subsidies from the so-called "Ministry of Finance of the LPR" and the "Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the LPR." Over the years 2023-2024, these companies paid nearly 8 million rubles in taxes to the aggressor state's budget, which funds the war in Ukraine.

Operatives from the DSR of the National Police and investigators from the SBU conducted searches at the residences of the individuals involved. As a result, they seized over $690,000, 87,000 euros, and nearly 960,000 hryvnias (totaling over 33 million hryvnias), as well as notebooks with rough notes, drafts of powers of attorney issued by the individuals to represent their interests in the occupied territories and in Russia, vehicles, and more.

One of the owners of the companies, the son of the former deputy, has been notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 4 of Article 111-1 (collaborative activities committed by a group of individuals based on prior agreement) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. If proven guilty, he faces a penalty of up to five years in prison, along with a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in specific activities for a period of 10 to 15 years, and confiscation of property.

As reported by sources from "RBK-Ukraine" within law enforcement, this concerns:

• Mykola Hapoсhka, a former member of the Ukrainian Parliament of the IV convocation, who at one time held the position of First Deputy Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration;
• Andrii Hapoсhka, the son of the former MP.