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The case of former Chairman of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Kniaziev

  • Date of commencement of the case: 17/05/2023
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The case of former Chairman of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Kniaziev The case of former Chairman of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Kniaziev

Case description

The NABU and the SAPO suspect Vsevolod Kniaziev, former Chairman of the Supreme Court, of organizing a scheme to receive bribes for passing verdicts. The crime of which the judge is suspected is punishable by up to 12 years in prison.  

In May 2023, NABU detectives exposed Kniaziev for receiving USD 2.7 million in bribes. According to the investigation, Kniaziev, in collusion with notary Kyrylo Horburov and lawyer Oleh Horetskyi, organized a scheme to receive bribes for the adoption of the necessary decisions. Horburov was looking for clients, and Horetskyi was negotiating with Kniaziev, who then negotiated with the Supreme Court judges.

In particular, the scheme worked in favor of oligarch Zhevaho. In January 2023, the oligarch's representatives asked Horetskyi to facilitate the adoption of a favorable decision in the case of the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant owned by the oligarch. Kniaziev agreed and valued his "services" at USD 1.8 million, and the total bribe amount after all the discussions was USD 2.7 million. 

In the end, the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court upheld the cassation appeals of Zhevaho's representatives, and the members of the criminal organization received the first tranche. Then, the second part was handed over, which was caught red-handed by the NABU and the SAPO

Vsevolod Kniaziev is charged with Article 368(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Since February 2024, he has been suspended from the administration of justice until the verdict of the Anti-Corruption Court comes into force or the case against the judge is closed. Even earlier, almost immediately after being served with the suspicion, the Supreme Court Plenum removed him from the post of court chairman. At the same time, Kniaziev still receives remuneration as a sitting judge, his monthly salary is UAH 197,000.

In addition, administrative proceedings were opened against Kniaziev. During the search, the judge was found to have a contract under which he rented a 4-room apartment in Kyiv for UAH 1,000. The court regarded UAH 906,000underpaid to the market value as an illegally received gift, which could not be seized. Therefore, the assets of Kniaziev and his ex-wife were seized.

Lawyer Oleh Horetskyi already concluded a plea agreement, for bribery of a public official and fraud. As a result of the court's verdict, Horetskyi was exempted from serving 5 years in prison and was assigned probation for 3 years. 

Kyrylo Horburov was not even served with a notice of suspicion. Kniaziev's defense counsel stated that Horburov was a NABU agent and actually provoked the crime in the interests of the NABU.

  • Proceeding No.: 52023000000000202
  • Case No.: 991/1692/24 show all cases hide other cases
  • Other court cases No.: 991/4301/23, 991/4315/23, 991/4318/23, 991/4307/23, 991/4310/23, 991/4312/23, 991/4316/23, 991/4299/23, 991/4298/23, 991/4305/23, 991/4308/23, 991/4303/23, 991/4335/23, 991/4306/23, 991/4304/23, 991/4340/23, 991/4300/23, 991/4302/23, 991/4284/23, 991/4344/23, 991/4422/23, 991/4354/23, 991/4430/23, 991/4651/23, 991/4652/23, 991/4984/23, 991/5030/23, 991/4432/23, 991/5381/23, 991/5630/23, 991/5809/23, 991/5925/23, 991/4429/23, 991/4431/23, 991/6122/23, 991/4435/23, 991/6307/23, 991/4427/23, 991/4434/23, 991/6032/23, 991/4919/23, 991/6247/23, 991/6570/23, 991/6449/23, 991/6021/23, 991/4396/23, 991/4395/23, 991/4421/23, 991/7155/23, 991/7252/23, 991/6785/23, 991/7308/23, 991/7445/23, 991/7595/23, 991/7526/23, 991/7527/23, 991/7410/23, 991/7570/23, 991/7669/23, 991/8022/23, 991/8021/23, 991/8258/23, 991/7739/23, 991/7740/23, 991/8404/23, 991/8873/23, 991/9067/23, 991/9069/23, 991/9066/23, 991/9915/23, 991/10584/23, 991/10543/23, 991/10196/23, 991/10954/23, 991/11053/23, 991/11124/23, 991/275/24, 991/715/24
  • Incriminated: Article 368, part 3, Article 368, part 4, Article 369, part 4
Instance Key parties Instance /Key parties:
HACC
05/03/2024

Panel of judges: Moisak S.M.

CCC
02/08/2023

Panel of judges: Yanovska O.H.

HACC
17/05/2023

Panel of judges: Fedorak L.M., Fedorov O.V., Strohyi I.L., Voronko V.D.

Infographics

THE CASE OF VSEVOLOD KNIAZIEV

Former Chairman of the Supreme Court Kniaziev allegedly organized a scheme to receive bribes for passing verdicts in the Supreme Court. The NABU and the SAPO exposed him while he was receiving USD 2.7 million.

  • May 15, 2023
    The NABU and the SAPO caught Kniaziev red-handed
  • pic
    May 16, 2023
    Kniaziev and Horetskyi were served with a suspicion notice
  • May 16, 2023
    The Supreme Court Plenum expressed no confidence in Kniaziev and removed him from the post of Court Chairman ahead of schedule
  • pic
    ВАКС узяв Князєва під варту з альтернативою 107 млн грн застави
    The HACC took Kniaziev into custody with an alternative of UAH 107 million bail
  • pic
    May 18, 2023
    The HACC took Horetskyi into custody with an alternative of UAH 80 million bail
  • May 23, 2023
    The NABU and the SAPO seized additional USD 500,000 during a search of Kniaziev's house
  • May 31, 2023
    The HACC Appeals Chamber reduced Kniaziev's bail to UAH 75 million
  • September 5, 2023
    The HACC Appeals Chamber reduced Kniaziev's bail to UAH 55 million
  • September 26, 2023
    The HACC Appeals Chamber reduced Kniaziev's bail to UAH 45 million
  • October 13, 2023
    The HACC Appeals Chamber reduced Kniaziev's bail to UAH 35 million
  • December 5, 2023
    The HACC reduced Kniaziev's bail to UAH 27 million
  • December 21, 2023
    The HACC Appeals Chamber reduced Kniaziev's bail to UAH 20 million
  • January 30, 2024
    The HACC reduced Kniaziev's bail to UAH 18 million
  • January 31, 2024
    Kniaziev was released from the pre-trial detention center, as the full amount of bail was paid for him
  • March 4, 2024
    The NABU and the SAPO referred Kniaziev's case to court

Decisions from the Register

Case No. Court Decision date Decision type
991/4301/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4315/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4318/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4307/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4310/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4312/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4316/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4299/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4298/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4305/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4308/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4303/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4335/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4306/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4304/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4340/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4300/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4302/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4284/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4299/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4335/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4310/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4300/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4307/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4306/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4302/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4318/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4315/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4305/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4304/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4301/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4316/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4284/23 HACC 17/05/2023
991/4344/23 HACC 18/05/2023
991/4422/23 HACC 25/05/2023
991/4354/23 HACC 30/05/2023
991/4354/23 HACC 30/05/2023
991/4354/23 HACC AC 30/05/2023 Decision on renewal of the term of appeal
991/4354/23 HACC AC 30/05/2023 Decision on renewal of the term of appeal
991/4344/23 HACC 31/05/2023
991/4344/23 HACC AC 31/05/2023 On the imposition of an interim measure in the form of detention, Decision on partial granting of appeals
991/4344/23 HACC AC 31/05/2023 On the imposition of an interim measure in the form of detention, Decision on partial granting of appeals
991/4430/23 HACC AC 05/06/2023 On closing appeal proceedings
991/4430/23 HACC AC 05/06/2023 On closing appeal proceedings
991/4651/23 HACC 05/06/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/4652/23 HACC 05/06/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/4651/23 HACC 05/06/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/4652/23 HACC 05/06/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/4984/23 HACC 12/06/2023
991/4984/23 HACC 12/06/2023
991/5030/23 HACC 13/06/2023
991/5030/23 HACC 13/06/2023
991/4432/23 HACC AC 14/06/2023
991/4432/23 HACC AC 14/06/2023
991/5381/23 HACC 27/06/2023
991/5381/23 HACC 27/06/2023
991/5630/23 HACC 29/06/2023
991/5809/23 HACC 04/07/2023
991/5809/23 HACC 05/07/2023
991/5809/23 HACC 05/07/2023
991/5925/23 HACC 07/07/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/5925/23 HACC 07/07/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/4429/23 HACC AC 11/07/2023 On closing appeal proceedings
991/4431/23 HACC AC 12/07/2023
991/4431/23 HACC AC 12/07/2023
991/6122/23 HACC 14/07/2023
991/6122/23 HACC 14/07/2023
991/4435/23 HACC AC 17/07/2023
991/4435/23 HACC AC 17/07/2023
991/6307/23 HACC 18/07/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/4427/23 HACC AC 18/07/2023
991/4434/23 HACC AC 18/07/2023 On closing appeal proceedings
991/4427/23 HACC AC 18/07/2023
991/6307/23 HACC 18/07/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/6307/23 HACC 18/07/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/4434/23 HACC AC 18/07/2023 On closing appeal proceedings
991/6032/23 HACC 20/07/2023
991/6032/23 HACC 20/07/2023
991/4919/23 HACC AC 20/07/2023
991/6032/23 HACC AC 20/07/2023
991/6032/23 HACC AC 20/07/2023 Separate opinion of the HACC AC judge
991/6032/23 HACC AC 20/07/2023
991/4919/23 HACC AC 20/07/2023
991/6247/23 HACC 27/07/2023
991/6570/23 HACC 27/07/2023 Decision to cancel the seizure of property
991/6247/23 HACC 27/07/2023
991/6570/23 HACC 27/07/2023 Decision to cancel the seizure of property
991/6449/23 HACC 28/07/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/6449/23 HACC 28/07/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/4354/23 CCC 02/08/2023 On the refusal to open cassation proceedings
991/6021/23 HACC 08/08/2023 On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/6021/23 HACC 08/08/2023 On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/4396/23 HACC 08/08/2023
991/4395/23 HACC 08/08/2023
991/6021/23 HACC AC 08/08/2023 Decision on partial granting of appeals, Decision on renewal of the term of appeal
991/6021/23 HACC AC 08/08/2023 Decision on partial granting of appeals, Decision on renewal of the term of appeal
991/6021/23 HACC AC 08/08/2023 Separate opinion of the HACC AC judge
991/4421/23 HACC AC 14/08/2023
991/4421/23 HACC AC 16/08/2023
991/4421/23 HACC AC 16/08/2023
991/7155/23 HACC 18/08/2023
991/7155/23 HACC 18/08/2023
991/7252/23 HACC 21/08/2023
991/6785/23 HACC 23/08/2023
991/7308/23 HACC 23/08/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/7308/23 HACC 23/08/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/6785/23 HACC 23/08/2023
991/7252/23 HACC 25/08/2023
991/7445/23 HACC 28/08/2023 On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/7445/23 HACC 28/08/2023 On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/7595/23 HACC 30/08/2023
991/7595/23 HACC 30/08/2023
991/7526/23 HACC 30/08/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/7527/23 HACC 30/08/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/7252/23 HACC 31/08/2023 On changing the interim measure for the accused, Decision to change the interim measure
991/7252/23 HACC 31/08/2023 Decision to change the interim measure, On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/7410/23 HACC 01/09/2023
991/7410/23 HACC 01/09/2023
991/7410/23 HACC 01/09/2023
991/7570/23 HACC 05/09/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/7669/23 HACC 12/09/2023
991/7669/23 HACC 12/09/2023
991/4435/23 HACC AC 18/09/2023
991/8022/23 HACC 19/09/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/8021/23 HACC 19/09/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/8258/23 HACC 22/09/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/4435/23 HACC AC 25/09/2023
991/7739/23 HACC AC 25/09/2023
991/4435/23 HACC AC 25/09/2023
991/7740/23 HACC 26/09/2023
991/7740/23 HACC 26/09/2023
991/7740/23 HACC AC 26/09/2023 Decision on partial granting of appeals
991/7740/23 HACC AC 26/09/2023 Decision on partial granting of appeals
991/7740/23 HACC AC 26/09/2023 Separate opinion of the HACC AC judge
991/7527/23 HACC 27/09/2023
991/8404/23 HACC 03/10/2023
991/7739/23 HACC 05/10/2023
991/7739/23 HACC 05/10/2023
991/7739/23 HACC AC 05/10/2023 On closing appeal proceedings
991/7739/23 HACC AC 05/10/2023 On closing appeal proceedings
991/8873/23 HACC 11/10/2023
991/8873/23 HACC 11/10/2023
991/9067/23 HACC 17/10/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/9069/23 HACC 17/10/2023
991/9066/23 HACC 17/10/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/8873/23 HACC AC 02/11/2023
991/8873/23 HACC AC 02/11/2023
991/9915/23 HACC 16/11/2023 On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/9915/23 HACC 16/11/2023 On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/10584/23 HACC 05/12/2023
991/10543/23 HACC 07/12/2023
991/10543/23 HACC 07/12/2023
991/10196/23 HACC 12/12/2023
991/10196/23 HACC 12/12/2023
991/10584/23 HACC AC 19/12/2023
991/10584/23 HACC 21/12/2023
991/10954/23 HACC 21/12/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/10584/23 HACC AC 21/12/2023 Decision on partial granting of appeals
991/10954/23 HACC 21/12/2023 Decision on temporary access
991/10584/23 HACC AC 21/12/2023 Separate opinion of the HACC AC judge
991/10584/23 HACC AC 21/12/2023 Decision on partial granting of appeals
991/11053/23 HACC 25/12/2023
991/11053/23 HACC 26/12/2023
991/11053/23 HACC 26/12/2023
991/11124/23 HACC 08/01/2024
991/11124/23 HACC 08/01/2024
991/275/24 HACC 23/01/2024 On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/275/24 HACC 23/01/2024 On changing the interim measure for the accused
991/715/24 HACC 30/01/2024
991/715/24 HACC 30/01/2024
991/715/24 HACC 21/02/2024
991/715/24 HACC AC 21/02/2024
991/715/24 HACC AC 21/02/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 05/03/2024 On the appointment of a preparatory court hearing
991/1692/24 HACC 13/03/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 13/03/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 28/03/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 28/03/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 27/05/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 27/05/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 08/07/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 08/07/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 08/07/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 08/07/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 20/08/2024 On the appointment of a trial
991/1692/24 HACC 20/08/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 20/08/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 20/08/2024 On the appointment of a trial
991/1692/24 HACC 09/09/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 09/09/2024 Decision on temporary access
991/1692/24 HACC 09/09/2024 Decision on temporary access
991/1692/24 HACC 09/09/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 09/09/2024 Decision on temporary access
991/1692/24 HACC 09/09/2024 Decision on temporary access
991/1692/24 HACC 23/09/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 23/09/2024 Decision on temporary access
991/1692/24 HACC 23/09/2024 Decision on temporary access
991/1692/24 HACC 23/09/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 28/10/2024
991/1692/24 HACC 28/10/2024