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The case of former MP Ruslan Solvar on the illegal receipt of compensation for rent

  • Date of commencement of the case: 22/05/2020
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The case of former MP Ruslan Solvar on the illegal receipt of compensation for rent The case of former MP Ruslan Solvar on the illegal receipt of compensation for rent

Case description

Former MP Ruslan Solvar was accused of receiving unreasonable compensation for renting accommodation in Kyiv. At first, he was acquitted, but then sentenced to 3 years.

Ruslan Solvar was a member of the Verkhovna Rada of the VII convocation. Since 2014, he was renting a room at the Kyiv Hotel, for which he rightfully received compensation from the budget, which is provided for MPs who do not have housing in or near the capital.

 

In 2017, he inherited an apartment in Kyiv, so he had a place to live, but he did not refuse compensation. It was only after a high-profile journalistic investigation that Solvar filed a request to stop payments.

Since the MP received his apartment in Kyiv, he managed to receive over UAH 361,000 in compensation. The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office served him with a suspicion notice under Article 364, part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The HACC did not find Solvar guilty under this article, but the judges concluded that he could have committed fraud. However, the case was not re-qualified because according to the Criminal Procedure Code, the court cannot do so if it worsens the position of the accused.

The appellate instance heard the arguments of the parties, in particular that Solvar did not refuse compensation, and issued a new guilty verdict against the former MP. Solvar was sentenced to 3 years in prison, a UAH 8,500 fine, and a one-year ban from holding public office.

The defense disagreed with the decision of the appellate instance and filed a cassation appeal. Based on the results of the review, the Supreme Court overturned the decision of the HACC AC and referred the case for a new hearing in the appellate instance. The reason for overturning the sentence was the erroneous qualification of Solvar's actions—abuse of office instead of abuse of authority.

It was reported that in June 2024, Solvar mobilized into the Armed Forces. In late August of the same year, the panel of HACC AC judges, consisting of Mykhailenko, Pavlyshyn, and Nykyforov again found former MP Solvar guilty. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

  • Proceeding No.: 52020000000000078
  • Case No.: 991/3966/20 show all cases hide other cases
  • Other court cases No.: 991/1474/20, 991/1475/20
  • Incriminated: Article 364, part 2, Article 191, part 2
Instance Key parties Instance /Key parties:
CCC
04/11/2024

Panel of judges: Holubytskyi S.S.

HACC AC
11/12/2023

Panel of judges: Mykhailenko D.H.

CCC
02/11/2022

Panel of judges: Lahniuk M.M., Antoniuk N.O.

HACC AC
20/07/2021

Panel of judges: Bodnar S.B., Pankulych V.I., Semennykov O.Yu.

Lawyer: Zorina R.O., Fedytnyka V.M.

Prosecutor: Stepanian S.L., Kymlyk R.V.

HACC
22/05/2020

Panel of judges: Bitsiuk A.V., Kryklyva T.H., Tanasevych O.V., Sikora K.O.

Lawyer: Fedytnyka V.M., Zorina R.O.

Prosecutor: Musiiaka V.V., Stepanian S.L.

Infographics

THE CASE OF RUSLAN SOLVAR

Former MP Ruslan Solvar unjustifiably received over UAH 361,000 in compensation for renting accommodation in the capital. For this, he was sentenced to a prison term with additional penalties.

  • November 26, 2014
    Solvar moved into the hotel for MPs and started receiving compensation for his stay there
  • March 1, 2017
    the former MP inherited an apartment in the capital
  • November 19, 2018
    Solvar filed a claim for termination of payments following a high-profile investigation by journalists
  • pic
    December 18, 2019
    Solvar was served with a suspicion notice
  • pic
    June 14, 2021
    the HACC acquitted Solvar, finding no crime in his actions
  • pic
    September 22, 2022
    the HACC Appeals Chamber overturned the acquittal and sentenced Solvar to 3 years in prison with a UAH 8,500 fine and a one-year ban on holding public office
  • November 22, 2022
    the Supreme Court suspended the enforcement of the sentence against Solvar, as he had a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease
  • pic
    November 27, 2023
    the Supreme Court overturned the verdict of the HACC AC and referred the case for a new appellate hearing
  • December 11, 2023
    the HACC AC re-opened the appeal proceedings in this case
  • June 10, 2024
    the HACC AC postponed the consideration of the motion to stop the proceedings against Solvar, as the former MP got mobilized into the Armed Forces
  • pic
    August 26, 2024
    HACC AC again sentenced Solvar to three years of imprisonment

Decisions from the Register

Case No. Court Decision date Decision type
991/1474/20 HACC 18/02/2020
991/1475/20 HACC 18/02/2020
991/1475/20 HACC 26/02/2020
991/1474/20 HACC 26/02/2020
991/1475/20 HACC 26/02/2020
991/1474/20 HACC 26/02/2020
991/1475/20 HACC 02/03/2020
991/3966/20 HACC 20/05/2020
991/3966/20 HACC 22/05/2020 On the appointment of a trial, On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/3966/20 HACC 22/05/2020 On the appointment of a trial, On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/3966/20 HACC 31/05/2021
991/3966/20 HACC 31/05/2021
991/3966/20 HACC 14/06/2021 Verdicts
991/3966/20 HACC AC 20/07/2021 Opening of appeal proceedings
991/3966/20 HACC AC 29/07/2021 Decision on the end of preparatory actions and the appointment of the case for an appellate hearing
991/3966/20 HACC AC 22/09/2022 On granting of the appeal, overturning the verdict, and closing the proceedings
991/3966/20 CCC 02/11/2022 On the opening of cassation proceedings
991/3966/20 CCC 10/11/2022
991/3966/20 CCC 18/07/2023
991/3966/20 CCC 31/07/2023
991/3966/20 CCC 27/11/2023 Resolution on partial granting of cassation appeals and the appointment of a new hearing in the court of the first or appellate instance
991/3966/20 HACC AC 11/12/2023 Opening of appeal proceedings
991/3966/20 HACC AC 20/12/2023 Completion of the preparation and appointment of the appeal hearing
991/3966/20 HACC AC 23/02/2024
991/3966/20 HACC AC 23/02/2024 On the imposition of an interim measure in the form of bail
991/3966/20 HACC AC 23/02/2024
991/3966/20 HACC AC 23/02/2024
991/3966/20 HACC AC 18/04/2024 On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/3966/20 HACC AC 18/04/2024 On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/3966/20 HACC AC 26/08/2024 Verdict of the appellate court
991/3966/20 CCC 14/10/2024 On leaving the cassation appeal without motion
991/3966/20 CCC 04/11/2024 Decision on the reclamation of materials
991/3966/20 CCC 04/11/2024 On the opening of cassation proceedings

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