Arakhamia is likely involved in Kaufman’s deal with NABU – ex-SAP prosecutor

At the end of 2023, the head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, Oleksandr Klymenko, initiated a meeting with businessman Borys Kaufman, who was suspected in the case of seizure of assets of the Odessa airport. Stanislav Bronevitsky, a former prosecutor of the SAPO, noted in his interview that such an initiative is unprecedented.

The investigation of the case lasted from April to August 2023, during which suspicions were raised against several individuals, including Kaufman and former mayor of Odessa Oleksiy Kostusyev.

Investigating the political aspect of the case, it is worth noting that People’s Deputy David Arakhamia, head of the “Servant of the People” faction, although not mentioned in the criminal proceedings, was still seen in the SAPO premises in the fall of 2023. Bronevitsky emphasized that he saw Arakhamia in the SAPO and noted that Klymenko then asked him about the possibility of concluding a deal with the suspects.

Information received by Bronevitsky from a NABU detective indicated that Arakhamia had attempted to contact him through third parties, but the detective refused to have an informal conversation. Bronevitsky noted the contradictory communication regarding the agreement, in particular, the official position of the defense, which denied the commission of the crime, while Klymenko initiated the discussion of the agreement.

In 2023, Arakhamia supported the independence of the SAPO, which was recognized as a victory for the anti-corruption infrastructure. Still, in 2024, he supported a bill that returned the SAPO to the control of the Prosecutor General’s Office. Under pressure from critics, he later admitted that this was a mistake and called for the restoration of the SAPO’s independence.

In September 2023, Klymenko organized the transfer of Kaufman from the pre-trial detention center for a personal conversation, a unique case in the practice of a prosecutor. According to Bronevitsky, during the first meeting, the possibilities of concluding a deal were discussed.

In 2024, Kaufman and other participants in the case signed an agreement with the SAPO, committing to reimburse the state 1 billion hryvnias, which allowed them to avoid prison sentences.

At the end of 2025, two criminal cases — about the Odessa airport and the organized criminal group — were merged. This process allowed the participants to resolve the issue within the framework of a single agreement. It is known that the investigation concerned the events of 2011 and the activities of the organized group.

The Supreme Anti-Corruption Court approved plea agreements with seven suspects, making this the largest deal in the history of the SAPO in terms of amount — 1 billion hryvnias — and involving well-known individuals, including the former mayor of Odessa and business people.

Arakhamia, whom NABU suspects of colluding with “kickbacks”, supported a bill that undermines the independence of anti-corruption bodies.