NABU conducting investigative actions involving Supreme Court judges
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is conducting investigative actions as part of a corruption case involving the Supreme Court of Ukraine.
This is according to the NABU’s press service, Ukrinform reports.
Investigators are carrying out searches at the workplaces, residences, and vehicles of several current and former Supreme Court judges.
The searches also involve former Supreme Court Chairman Vsevolod Kniaziev, whose corruption case is currently being heard by the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine (HACC).
The NABU said further details of the investigation will be disclosed later.
As previously reported, the NABU announced in May 2023 that it had uncovered a $2.7 million bribery scheme allegedly involving the leadership and judges of the Supreme Court.
According to investigators, the bribe was linked to an April 19, 2023 ruling by the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court recognizing the legality of the 2002 acquisition of shares in the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant by Ferrexpo, whose shareholders include businessman Kostiantyn Zhevago.
During a plenary session of the Supreme Court, 140 judges voted to express no confidence in Kniaziev and approved a resolution terminating his powers as head of the court.
On May 18, Ukraine’s High Council of Justice authorized Kniaziev’s detention.
The same day, the High Anti-Corruption Court ordered his pre-trial detention with the option of posting bail set at UAH 107.3 million.
The bail was later reduced to UAH 18.168 million, which was paid on January 31, 2024. Kniaziev was released from custody the same day.
On March 4, 2024, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) submitted an indictment against the former Supreme Court Chairman to the High Anti-Corruption Court.
On July 10, 2024, the High Anti-Corruption Court ordered the detention of Zhevago, owner of the Finance and Credit group, who is suspected of offering a bribe to former Supreme Court Chairman Vsevolod Kniaziev.