The case of Lilia Pavlova, Volyn ex-official, on embezzlement at the construction of fortifications in the ATO zone

The case of Lilia Pavlova, Volyn ex-official, on embezzlement at the construction of fortifications in the ATO zone
Start of the trial 13 November 2019
Date of verdict 20 September 2021
Instance CCC
Stage of criminal proceedings Cassation proceedings

Lilia Pavlova, a former Volyn Regional State Administration official, was accused of changing the estimate for the construction of strongholds in the ATO (Joint Forces Operation) zone in the Donetsk region, which resulted in their construction with unsuitable materials. The HACC acquitted her.

In 2017, the then-Prosecutor General Yurii Lutsenko traveled to the front line and saw that instead of strongholds, imitations of them had been built on the second front line. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense boasted back in the summer that three lines of fortifications had been built in the combat zone in a short time. After Lutsenko's visit to the Donbas in November 2017, Lilia Pavlova, who headed the capital construction department of the Volyn Regional State Administration, was suspected of being responsible for that section of the fortifications.

According to the investigation, Pavlova made changes to the construction estimates for the strongholds on her own, which led the contractors to build metal barrels of sand instead of high-quality dugouts, which were unsuitable for use in combat. She was charged with abuse of office under Article 364, part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. 

The HACC found no crime in Pavlova's actions, as it was necessary to build the strongholds in a short time, given the cost savings, hostilities, and limited production capacity. Therefore, the HACC acquitted Pavlova and did not confirm that the Defense Ministry suffered UAH 2 million in losses. Moreover, the Ministry of Defense did not claim any damage and did not even appear at the hearing and confirmed that the construction was carried out according to the agreed technology using containers provided by the Ministry of Defense. 

The prosecutor did not have time to file an appeal in time, so he did so late and asked for an extension of the appeal period. The HACC Appeals Chamber denied, and Pavlova's acquittal was upheld.

Proceeding No. 42017051110000188
Case No. 161/3363/19
Date the hearing was scheduled 15/11/2019
Subject
  • Executive bodies of local self-government: Members of the executive committee, Heads of executive bodies of local self-government
Qualification
Article 364, part 2
Instance Key parties
CCC 08/02/2022 Panel of judges: Yeremeichuk S.V., Borodii V.M., Mazur M.V.
HACC AC 03/11/2021 Panel of judges: Nykyforov A.S., Hlotov M.S., Kaluhina I.O.
HACC 13/11/2019 Panel of judges: Kryklyvyi V.V., Strohyi I.L., Nohachevskyi V.V.
THE CASE OF LILIA PAVLOVA
Cassation proceedings

According to the investigation, Lilia Pavlova, a former official of the Volyn Regional State Administration, changed the estimate for the construction of fortifications in the ATO zone, which led to their construction with low-quality materials. The court acquitted Pavlova and found no crime in her actions.

 

  • September 22, 2017
    the Military Prosecutor's Office announced that it intended to check the fact of embezzlement during the construction of fortifications in the Donbas after Prosecutor General Lutsenko's visit to the front line
  • pic
    November 17, 2017
    Pavlova was served a suspicion notice of abuse of office
  • pic
    September 15, 2021
    the HACC acquitted Pavlova
  • November 3, 2021
    the HACC Appeals Chamber returned appeal against the first instance decision

Decisions from the Register