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. In 2023, the court found him guilty in this case, fined Kniaziev UAH 2,550 and ordered the confiscation of the illegal gift.
After that, the NACP appealed to the High Council of Justice; it opened a disciplinary case and adopted a decision to bring Vsevolod Kniaziev to disciplinary liability and dismiss him from the position of the Supreme Court judge. In December 2024, the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court upheld this decision. It was the final stage of the disciplinary proceedings against Kniaziev.
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.
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