The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has launched a pre-trial investigation into the alleged actions by officials of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) and officials of other government agencies with the aim of obtaining undue benefits in a particularly large amount, combined with extortion.

"Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine have launched a pre-trial inquiry into the possible commission by officials of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, other public officials and other individuals as part of an organized group of actions to obtain undue benefits in especially large amounts, combined with extortion of such benefits for the commission of actions in the interests of the beneficiary and third parties," the NABU told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

The Bureau has said that the preliminary legal qualification is under part 3 of Article 28 (commission of a crime by a group of persons, or by a group of persons by prior agreement, by an organized group or a criminal organization) and part 4 of Article 368 (obtaining undue advantage) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

At the same time, the NABU noted that the information was entered into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations on November 10 based on whistleblowers' reports.

At the same time, the Bureau has not disclosed the positions and names of officials into whom pre-trial investigation is being conducted.