Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court suspended from justice until the verdict enters into force or the proceedings are closed - HCJ
Kyiv • UNN
The High Council of Justice has suspended Supreme Court Judge Vsevolod Knyazev from administering justice until a court verdict or closure of criminal proceedings on charges of taking a bribe as an official holding a particularly responsible position.
The High Council of Justice has suspended judge and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Knyazev from administering justice until the court verdict comes into force or the criminal proceedings on the charges are closed, the HCJ reported on Thursday, UNN reports.
Details
"On April 4, 2024, the High Council of Justice temporarily suspended a Supreme Court judge from the administration of justice in connection with the prosecution of until the court verdict enters into force or the criminal proceedings on the charges are closed," the HCJ reported.
As stated, the decision was made following consideration of a petition filed by the Deputy Prosecutor General - Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office Oleksandr Klymenko.
"The judge is accused of accepting an offer and receiving by an official holding a particularly responsible position, by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, an undue advantage in a particularly large amount for himself/herself and third parties for the commission by such an official in the interests of the who offers and provides the unlawful benefit, and in the interests of a third party, actions using the power and official position granted to him/her, i.e. in committing a criminal offense under part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine," the POC said.
The petition, as stated, "contains justifications indicating that the administration of justice by the judge may lead to negative consequences, namely: there are risks that the suspect may directly or indirectly influence witnesses or other participants in the criminal proceedings, or otherwise interfere with the criminal proceedings".
Addendum
The HCJ recalled that on May 18, 2023 the High Council of Justice gave consent to the detention of Supreme Court Justice Vsevolod Kniazev, On February 6 , 2024 , temporarily, until April 6 , 2024, suspended him from the administration of justice in connection with criminal prosecution.
