The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the State Bureau of Investigation have collected evidence against Yuriy Aristov, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee on national security, defence and intelligence, and are accusing him of forgery.
According to the SBU website, based on the evidence gathered, Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin notified the MP of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Aristov, despite the ban on officials travelling abroad during the war, went on holiday to an island in the Indian Ocean. He stayed in a hotel on the island of Ithaafushi in the Maldives.
"In order to illegally leave Ukraine, he entered false information into official documents for travelling abroad. In particular, regarding the term, purpose and country of the MP's 'business trip'," the SBU said.
The MP went on a working visit to a neighbouring European country for three days and remotely took a sick leave in a private medical institution in Kyiv until 19 July inclusive. The SBU noted that false information had been entered into the electronic healthcare system, as no medical examination had actually taken place.
During the searches at Aristov's residence, the SBU found a passport with a stamp of departure for the Maldives. The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime.
Earlier, Slidstvo Info journalists found out that Aristov had been on holiday in an expensive hotel in the Maldives in mid-July. Following the publication, he tendered his resignation as an MP.
The day before, the SBU and the SBI searched his place, and parliament revoked his mandate at a meeting on 27 July.
Earlier, MP Mykola Tyshchenko found himself in a similar situation. He lost his membership in the faction and party, but still continues to be an MP.