The press secretary of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine Daria Manzhura explained that their undercover operation in the State Migration Service was aimed at discovering a broad criminal group and not just Dina Pimakhova, as she told Hromadske radio.
Yesterday it was informed that the Security Service of Ukraine detained a NABU officer on trying to bribe Dina Pimakhova, Deputy Head of State Migration Service. The NABU explained that their officer was working undercover trying to expose the corruption in the State Migration Service. The Security Service says they didn’t know about the operation, which is why they arrested the officer. Moreover, they say he shouldn’t have tried to give a bribe, as it’s illegal.
The NABU, however, believes it was an intentional diversion of their work by the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Security Service. NABU spokesperson emphasized that their undercover operation lasted since April, but the law enforcers’ actions jeopardized it.
The NABU says they started the operation, as according to their information, the State Migration Service officers were demanding bribes from foreigners for issuing citizenships and permits for temporary residence.
The detectives say they had made up a cover story, by which the undercover agent came into contact with Pimakhova, and in November she agreed to help with giving out a permit for temporary residence for $30.000.
