On March 19, 2026, the HACC Appeals Chamber opened proceedings on the appeals filed by both the prosecutor and the defense counsel of Volodymyr Orlov — former Deputy Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration — challenging the acquittal handed down by the HACC in his case.

As reported earlier, the HACC previously acquitted Volodymyr Orlov of soliciting a bribe from a private company in exchange for granting it long-term use of a plot of forest land, finding that his actions did not constitute the elements of the charged offense. A more detailed account of the case and the court's reasoning can be found in our earlier coverage.

In his appeal, the prosecutor is asking the court to overturn the acquittal and issue a new verdict finding Orlov guilty of a criminal offense under Article 368(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. 

Orlov's defense counsel has also filed an appeal, likewise seeking to amend the verdict — specifically, to have Orlov formally acquitted on the grounds that the commission of a criminal offense has not been proven.

The court has set April 17, 2026 as the deadline for submitting objections to the appeals.