In a Kyiv restaurant, the SBU and police seized outlawed Garant party leader Walerij Tokar, who allegedly accepted $160,000 for a spot on its list and help securing a seat in the Supreme Council.
Arrest of Walerij Tokar
Tokar was detained by the SBU and police while eating in a Kyiv restaurant. Investigators say he was receiving $160,000 in exchange for a place on the party’s electoral list and assistance in obtaining a parliamentary mandate.
The money was divided into entry fees and alleged party development costs, according to Ukrainian prosecutors.
Propagation of False Information
Investigators claim Tokar used his social media channels to spread misinformation about the Ukrainian army and the front‑line situation, echoing Kremlin narratives.
His accounts had nearly half a million followers. During the search, devices and documents confirming the operation were seized.
Who Is Walerij Tokar?
Tokar, 41, is a Kyiv politician who previously ran unsuccessfully for parliament and headed the media firm Ukratomenergo, linked to former energy minister Eduard Stavyk.
In 2021 he founded the Garant party, which was later suspended over registration irregularities, and he also established a social organization of the same name.
Charges and Potential Sentences
Tokar faces a charge of attempted large‑scale appropriation of property during martial law, punishable by up to 12 years’ imprisonment and asset forfeiture under Ukrainian criminal law.
The court has granted him bail of 6.725 million hryvnia.
