Former Chief Justice Knyazev remanded in custody until February 2
Kyiv • UNN
High Anti-Corruption Court extends custody as a measure of restraint for former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Kniazev
The High Anti-Corruption Court has extended the preventive measure for the former Supreme Court extended the preventive measure for former Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniazev for another two months, UNN reports with reference to the SAPO.
... the investigating judge of the High Anti-Corruption Court upheld the position of the SAPO prosecutor and extended the measure of restraint in the form of the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
In addition, the court reduced the amount of bail for the said suspect from UAH 35 million to UAH 27 million.
The preventive measure is valid until February 2, 2024. year.
"In case of payment of the specified bail amount the suspect will be subject to a number of procedural obligations," the SAPO added.
As a reminder,
Vsevolod Knyazev was detained on May 15 for bribes totaling $2.7 million. The bribe was supposed to facilitate the resolution of a case considered by the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court. This is a case concerning the ownership of 40.19% of shares in Ferrexpo's Poltava Mining and Processing Plant (PMP). In its decision, the body left these shares to companies related to Zhevago, canceling the invalidation of the sale and purchase agreements concluded 20 years ago.
As confirmed by the NABU, Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniazev received money from people who advocated for a court decision in favor of oligarch, former owner of the Finance and Credit bank and former MP Kostiantyn Zhevago.
In particular, the case involves a certain law firm, which, in fact, was a kind of back office and acted as an intermediary in organizing bribes for judges. Under the guise of legal services and legal support, the group members agreed with judges to make decisions in the interests of their "clients" (individuals or legal entities) for a certain "reward".
The hearings in the case were postponed several times to agree on the details of the bribe transfer and receipt.
It is noted that on May 3, the members of the criminal organization received the first tranche, and on May 15, the second part was transferred, which was actually caught red-handed with the participation of the Supreme Court President, said NABU Head Sergiy Krivonos.
On May 16, the Supreme Court Plenum decided to terminate Knyazev's powers as the court's chief justice. He remains a judge of the Supreme Court, but is currently detained. In the near future, the court will also have to choose a preventive measure against him, but this cannot be done without the permission of the High Council of Justice.
