Kyiv’s High Anti-Corruption Court ordered a corruption investigation into alleged vote-buying involving David Arakhamia, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s parliamentary faction, but no case has been opened so far, the prosecutor’s office says. The court ruling was issued on Nov. 4 and the prosecutor’s office confirmed it received the decision on Nov. 12. The acting Prosecutor General, Anton Kovalskyi, said the matter will be reviewed under the procedure set by law, but it was not clear if and when an investigation will start. According to the Kyiv Independent, the order stems from accusations that Arakhamia was linked to a scheme to buy votes in parliament. Arakhamia has denied wrongdoing. Anti-corruption watchdog the Anti-Corruption Action Center criticised Kovalskyi for refusing to open the case. The watchdog head, Vitaly Shabunin, said Kovalskyi was shielding Arakhamia after Arakhamia’s office allegedly claimed it never received the ruling. The case focuses on claims by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, NABU, that some lawmakers may have received cash in exchange for votes. In December, five lawmakers from Zelensky’s Servant of the People party were charged in the wider probe, including a lawmaker identified as Arakhamia’s deputy. NABU also searched an Arakhamia aide’s premises in April, and earlier court orders were reported in July to allow biological samples to be collected from the aide connected to the alleged cash payments. The prosecutor’s office said NABU needs the prosecutor general’s approval to investigate a member of parliament. In August, the chief anti-corruption prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko said no case against Arakhamia had been opened without that approval. Arakhamia told reporters he was not involved and denied that lawmakers were receiving unofficial cash payments. The latest status remains that the ruling has been received, but the investigation has not yet been launched.