News Feed

Top judicial body allows detention of ex-Supreme Court Head

1 min read

Ukraine's Supreme Council of Justice voted in favor of continuing the detention of now former Supreme Court Head Vsevolod Kniaziev, the Anti-Corruption Center reported on May 18.

According to the Anti-Corruption Center, 14 out of 20 members voted in favor of the decision. The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) can now submit a motion to the High Anti-Corruption Court regarding preventive measures of Kniaziev's detention.

Since Kniaziev remains a Ukrainian judge, the Supreme Council of Justice must allow his arrest.

SAPO reported charging Kniaziev with corruption on May 16.

If convicted, Kniaziev may face up to 12 years in prison. He is accused of receiving $3 million in bribes for the court's decision favoring Ukrainian oligarch Kostiantyn Zhevago's businesses.

The Anti-Corruption Center wrote that during the hearing, Kniaziev said his office was not a secure facility and practically anyone could enter.

"People brought various sums of money to me for safekeeping, even Supreme Court judges. They were simply stored in my office," Kniaziev claimed.

Kniaziev was first detained by authorities on May 15 when he was taking a part of the bribe.

Supreme Court votes to dismiss chief alleged of taking a $3 million bribe
A plenary meeting of Ukraine’s Supreme Court has voted to dismiss the court’s head, Vsevolod Kniaziev, who was earlier detained for allegedly receiving a $3 million bribe.
Article image
Avatar
The Kyiv Independent news desk

We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.

Read more
News Feed
 (Updated:  )

U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks come after the Financial Times (FT) reported, citing undisclosed sources, that he asked President Volodymyr Zelensky whether Kyiv could strike Moscow or St. Petersburg if provided with long-range U.S. weapons.

"The stolen data includes confidential questionnaires of the company's employees, and most importantly, full technical documentation on the production of drones, which was handed over to the relevant specialists of the Ukrainian Defense Forces," a source in Ukraine's military intelligence told the Kyiv Independent.

Show More