**Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Returns Home Amid Corruption Investigation**
Oleksii Chernyshov, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, has returned to the country on June 22 after a trip abroad. The move comes as law enforcement agencies investigate a corruption scheme involving two officials from the now-dissolved Communities and Territories Development Ministry, which was headed by Chernyshov.
**Controversy Surrounds Chernyshov**
Chernyshov’s absence had sparked speculation among media outlets and government officials. Suspicions arose when he did not attend a Kyiv forum that he organized himself but joined online from abroad. The deputy prime minister’s trip to Vienna, announced on June 16, was met with questions about the investigation.
**Government Response**
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal had previously answered questions in parliament about Chernyshov’s trip, saying it was a regular part of his work. However, Ukrainska Pravda reported that sources close to the matter stated that police searches were not conducted during the initial investigation due to interference from the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.
**Chernyshov Addresses Media Speculations**
In a Facebook post, Chernyshov announced his return and said he would be returning to work within the Cabinet of Ministers starting on June 23. He also referred to the ongoing police matter, stating that “we’ll break down the smear campaign fact by fact. The truth always prevails.”
**Investigation Background**
The corruption scheme being investigated involved illicitly transferring a plot of land for real estate development between 2021 and 2022. Chernyshov and two associates were under investigation last year over suspicions they received kickbacks from Serhii Kopystira, the head of the KSM Group.
**Other Individuals Involved**
Two other individuals connected to the case, Maksym Horbatiuk and Vasyl Volodin, were reportedly detained last week as the investigation began moving forward. President Volodymyr Zelensky previously commented on Chernyshov’s presence abroad, stating that he had been working on opening hubs in different countries and multiple citizenship.
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