The High Anti-Corruption Court has delivered a ruling against the former head of the Ternopil Regional Council, Mykhailo Holovko, sentencing him to 9 years in prison with property confiscation in a bribery case.

The court stated: "The final punishment for the former head of the Ternopil Regional Council is set at 9 years of imprisonment along with a three-year ban on holding positions in state authorities and local self-government, excluding elected positions, and with the confiscation of all property".

The ruling was announced on June 18. Holovko was found guilty of committing criminal offenses under part 4 of article 368 (Acceptance of a proposal, promise, or receipt of illegal benefits by an official) and part 1 of article 263 (Illegal handling of weapons) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The High Anti-Corruption Court noted: "The court concluded that the former head of the Ternopil Regional Council, being an official in a position of special responsibility, requested an illegal benefit from the founder of the contracting company and received it in the amount of 612,000 UAH for including a construction facility in the list of those requiring funding from the leftover unused funds of the state budget subsidy from previous years".

Holovko was also found guilty of illegal possession of ammunition without the necessary permit.

The High Anti-Corruption Court emphasized that the verdict can be appealed within 30 days from the date of its announcement.