Bribe to former Head of the Supreme Court: the case of oligarch Kostiantyn Zhevaho

Bribe to former Head of the Supreme Court: the case of oligarch Kostiantyn Zhevaho
Instance HACC
Stage of criminal proceedings Pre-trial investigation

The NABU and SAPO charge oligarch Kostiantyn Zhevaho with bribing then-Supreme Court Chairman Vsevolod Kniaziev with $2.7 million in exchange for a ruling in favor of a company under his control. In return for the bribe, the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court was to overturn a ruling by the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal concerning his company, with Kniaziev tasked with ensuring that decision was adopted.

The Commercial Court of Kyiv City opened proceedings on a lawsuit filed by Trimcroft Services Limited against several companies and authorities. The lawsuit sought to invalidate a contract and restore previous ownership rights. The third-party lawsuits were consolidated for joint consideration.

The court of the first instance did not grant the lawsuits. However, the Northern Commercial Court of Appeals partially granted the companies' appeals and ordered the seizure of shares in Poltava Mining and Processing Enterprise from the illegal possession of Ferrexpo AG in favor of: Trimcroft Services Limited, Calefort Developments Limited, Emsworth Assets Limited and Gilson Investments Limited.

According to the prosecution, Kostiantyn Zhevaho is the ultimate beneficial owner of Ferrexpo AG, which owns 100% of the Poltava Mining and Processing Enterprise shares. In September 2022, the court recognized that the company owned shares of the enterprise illegally, as a result, Kostiantyn Zhevaho lost the right to own the enterprise's shares.

A cassation appeal was filed against this decision later, and then the case was transferred to the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court. Oleh Horetskyi, the managing partner of Horetskyi and Partners law firm,learned about this and offered his services. Later he told about his friendship with the former head of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Kniaziev.

Kostiantyn Zhevaho offered Vsevolod Kniaziev a bribe through unauthorized persons to decide in his favor in the Supreme Court. Vsevolod Kniaziev demanded USD 3 million for this.

Realizing he could not deliver the illegal benefit alone, Kostiantyn Zhevaho enlisted lawyer Oleh Horetskyi and other intermediaries. Oleh Horetskyi that reported Kostiantyn Zhevaho was ready to give a USD 2 million bribe, of which the former head of the court and other judges would receive USD 1.8 million, and another USD 200,000 would be distributed among intermediaries. Kostiantyn Zhevaho was ready to pay USD 2.7 million, and Oleh Horetskyi planned to distribute the remaining amount among the defendants himself.

The funds were transferred in installments through Horetskyi, who stored them in safes and offices for later delivery to the judges.

On April 19, 2023, the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court issued a ruling, according to which the decision of the appellate instance was overturned and partly granted the cassation appeals of Kostiantyn Zhevaho's firms. Meanwhile, Vsevolod Kniaziev pretended not to be involved or interested in this court decision.

Kniaziev and allegedly other judges received the unlawful benefit in two installments in May: $1.348 million and $450,000.

Law enforcement officers classified Kostiantyn Zhevaho's actions under Article 369, part 4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The oligarch is currently in Paris; he left in 2019. In October 2024, the Prosecutor General's Office submitted an extradition request to France for Kostiantyn Zhevaho. In October 2025, however, the Paris Court of Appeal denied extradition. Zhevaho's press service stated that the court rejected the Ukrainian side's arguments regarding guarantees of his right to a fair and impartial trial.

Proceeding No. 52023000000000460
Date the indictment/claim was received by the court 16/06/2026
Duration of proceedings 8 days
Subject
  • Business
Qualification
Article 369, part 4
Pre-trial cases №
  • 991/2676/26
  • 991/10925/25
  • 991/8846/25
  • 991/10820/25
  • 991/477/25
  • 991/11751/24
  • 991/5700/24
  • 991/7830/24
  • 991/5406/24
  • 991/4145/24
  • 991/4083/24
  • 991/2840/24
  • 991/2358/24
  • 991/1800/24
  • 991/1821/24
  • 991/1804/24
  • 991/1131/24
  • 991/958/24
  • 991/11056/23
  • 991/10925/23
  • 991/10755/23
  • 991/10194/23
  • 991/9842/23
  • 991/9843/23
  • 991/9589/23
  • 991/9135/23
  • 991/8867/23
  • 991/8408/23
  • 991/8185/23
  • 991/8330/23
  • 991/8332/23
  • 991/8327/23
Instance
The case is at the stage of pre-trial investigation
THE CASE OF KOSTIANTYN ZHEVAHO
Pre-trial investigation

Kostiantyn Zhevaho is suspected of providing a USD 2.7 million bribe to Vsevolod Kniaziev, the former head of the Supreme Court, to decide in favor of his companies in the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court.

Article 369 (4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine

  • pic
    March — May 2023
    Kostiantyn Zhevaho first offered the bribe through intermediaries and then provided it to Vsevolod Kniaziev and other judges of the Supreme Court
  • pic
    June 6, 2023
    Kostiantyn Zhevaho was served with a suspicion notice
  • pic
    July 2, 2024
    Kostiantyn Zhevaho was put on the international wanted list
  • July 10, 2024
    The HACC arrested Zhevaho in absentia
  • September 6, 2024
    The HACC Appeals Chamber upheld Zhevaho's in absentia arrest
  • September 4, 2025
    The HACC denied the conduct of a special pre-trial investigation
  • October 15, 2025
    The HACC Appeals Chamber granted the prosecutor’s appeal and allowed a special pre-trial investigation
  • October 21, 2025
    The NABU completed pre-trial investigation
  • pic
    On June 16, 2026
    NABU and SAPO referred the indictment to the HACC

Decisions from the Register

Case No. Court Decision type
991/2676/26 HACC 30/03/2026
991/2676/26 HACC 30/03/2026
991/10925/25 HACC 29/10/2025
991/8846/25 CCC 27/10/2025 On the refusal to open cassation proceedings
991/10820/25 HACC 22/10/2025
991/8846/25 HACC AC 15/10/2025
991/8846/25 HACC AC 15/10/2025
991/8846/25 HACC 04/09/2025
991/8846/25 HACC 04/09/2025
991/477/25 HACC 11/02/2025
991/11751/24 HACC 22/10/2024
991/11751/24 HACC 22/10/2024
991/5700/24 HACC AC 06/09/2024
991/5700/24 HACC AC 06/09/2024
991/7830/24 HACC 23/08/2024
991/5700/24 HACC 10/07/2024 On the imposition of an interim measure in the form of detention
991/5700/24 HACC 10/07/2024 On the imposition of an interim measure in the form of detention
991/5700/24 HACC 09/07/2024
991/5700/24 HACC 09/07/2024
991/5406/24 HACC 28/06/2024
991/4145/24 HACC 27/05/2024 Decision to cancel the seizure of property
991/4145/24 HACC 27/05/2024 Decision to cancel the seizure of property
991/4083/24 HACC 17/05/2024
991/4083/24 HACC 17/05/2024
991/2840/24 HACC 10/04/2024
991/2840/24 HACC 10/04/2024
991/2358/24 HACC 03/04/2024
991/1800/24 HACC 15/03/2024 Decision to cancel the seizure of property
991/1800/24 HACC 15/03/2024 Decision to cancel the seizure of property
991/1821/24 HACC 13/03/2024
991/1804/24 HACC 07/03/2024
991/1131/24 HACC 20/02/2024
991/958/24 HACC 06/02/2024
991/11056/23 HACC 04/01/2024
991/10925/23 HACC 26/12/2023
991/10925/23 HACC 20/12/2023
991/10755/23 HACC 19/12/2023
991/10194/23 HACC 27/11/2023
991/9842/23 HACC 15/11/2023
991/9843/23 HACC 13/11/2023
991/9589/23 HACC 10/11/2023
991/9135/23 HACC AC 07/11/2023
991/9135/23 HACC AC 07/11/2023
991/9135/23 HACC 20/10/2023
991/8867/23 HACC 17/10/2023
991/8867/23 HACC 17/10/2023
991/8408/23 HACC 28/09/2023
991/8185/23 HACC 26/09/2023
991/8330/23 HACC 26/09/2023
991/8330/23 HACC 26/09/2023
991/8332/23 HACC 26/09/2023
991/8332/23 HACC 26/09/2023
991/8327/23 HACC 25/09/2023
991/8327/23 HACC 25/09/2023
991/8185/23 HACC 20/09/2023

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