The mayor of Ochakiv reacted to the statement of the NACP about his illegal enrichment: «It was done on purpose»

Mayor of Ochakov Serhii Bychkov, archival photo of NikVesti

The mayor of Ochakiv, Serhii Bychkov, promised later to provide information on all his income for the past eight years. In this way, he reacted to the statement of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption regarding the identification of signs of illegal enrichment in his declaration.

Serhii Bychkov's official statement was published on the Facebook page of the Ochakiv City Council.

He stated that NACP specifically made public information about the data from his declaration at a time when he is on a business trip and cannot «personally comment» on it.

«Recently, an article on «Illegal enrichment and unreliable information...» regarding my income and the income of my family was published on the NACP website. This was done specifically at the moment when I am on a business trip and cannot personally comment on this information. I officially declare that all information regarding my income, starting from 2016, will be provided after my return, by me personally, to all those who are interested in it,» he said.

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As reported, law enforcement officers have opened proceedings against the mayor of Ochakiv, Serhii Bychkov, in whom the NACP previously found signs of illegal enrichment.

We will remind you that in April 2022, Mayor Serhii Bychkov did not allow journalists to work in the city, and the deputy mayor commented on it as follows: «You don't need to go here.»

Although later, Ochakiv's mayor's office explained Serhii Bychkov's absence in public space as his dislike for such communication and admitted that the media coverage did not save the community from shelling and occupation.

Bychkov's private behavior and the lack of reports on the results of his work were explained by the head of Mykolaiv RMA by the fact that he is a «non-public person».

How is the mayor of Ochakiv related to the treason case of Eduard Shevchenko?

Eduard Shevchenko headed the department of the Ochakiv City Council responsible for security in the city and was the commander of the 73rd Naval Special Forces Center. During his detention in March 2023, the SBU reported, in particular, that he had tried to recruit Serhii Bychkov.

According to the case, in 2023, when Eduard Shevchenko was the head of the department of protection and surveillance of the housing and communal services department of the Ochakiv City Council, he received a task from Serhii Kolesnikov to recruit the mayor for a loyal relationship. In a direct conversation with Bychkov in the city council, Shevchenko said that representatives of the Russian Federation want to talk to the mayor.

«He is very careful. He proposed through me,» he told Kolesnikov at the time after communicating with the Ochakiv mayor.

Even after his arrest, Eduard Shevchenko said that he was surprised by the SSU release, which stated that he tried to recruit mayor Serhii Bychkov to work for the Russians.

The Deputy Chairman of the Public Control Council of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine, Denys Zhelo , commented on the lack of claims by law enforcement officers against Ochakiv Mayor Serhii Bychkov, whose colleague was arrested for treason. According to Denys Zhelo, the mayor of Ochakiv Serhii Bychkov «was friends in all directions with the Russian intelligence agent Eduard Shevchenko.»

Eduard Shevchenko himself noted that he considers Serhii Bychkov to be the most effective mayor of all those who were in Ochakiv.