The panel of judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) extended the term of office of the former head of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Knyazev, but exempted him from wearing an electronic bracelet.
This is reported by Transparency International Ukraine.
Knyazev, as before, must come to the court prosecutor at the first request, not leave Ukraine, refrain from communicating with witnesses, and hand in passports for traveling abroad.
At the same time, the HACC panel decided to remove Knyazevʼs electronic bracelet, as the ex-chairman of the Supreme Court stated that he had "no light and no communication for six hours at his place of residence, so the bracelet is ineffective." Knyazev also claims that the bracelet has a bad effect on his health.
The defense argued that the prosecutor did not provide any evidence that would confirm the existence of risks.
- On May 15, 2023, the head of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Knyazev was caught taking a bribe of almost $3 million. The bribery was connected with decisions in favor of businessman Kostyantyn Zhevago in the case of the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant ( here are more details about the case ). Zhevago rejected all the accusations and called the "customers" — the alleged Russian owners of his assets, as well as businessman Ihor Kolomoiskyi.
- On May 16, the Supreme Court expressed no confidence in Knyazev and released him, later Knyazev was suspected, and then the court arrested him with the right to a bail of 75 million hryvnias. After that, the court reduced the bail seven times — the last time to 18.168 million. On January 31, 2024, this amount was paid, and Knyazev was released from custody.