Today, the Appeals Chamber of the HACC overturned the decision of the HACC to apply an interim measure in the form of detention in absentia to former MP Dmytro Kriuchkov.
Kriuchkov, accused of embezzling over UAH 1.5 billion from the Cherkasyoblenergo and Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo enterprises (regional electricity distribution companies), is on the international wanted list; he left the country in February 2024. Since then, the HACC has already arrested him in absentia twice, and the appellate instance overturned both decisions. Over the entire period of the HACC’s consideration of the case, more than six defense attorneys of the accused have changed; four of them were provided at the expense of the state. The current court-appointed attorney stopped appearing at the hearings after the interim measure was imposed.
Today, the judges of the HACC AC considered a letter from Judge Kruk, presiding over Kriuchkov's case in the first instance, about the improper behavior of the defense at the hearings. Kruk reported that attorney Syniavska did not appear at the HACC hearings, so, in fact, court-appointed attorney Sennychenko is the only one defending Kriuchkov.
Syniavska stated that she did not understand why she should be present at the hearings in the first instance since she only provided defense on appeal. For his part, attorney Sennychenko sent a statement to the Appeals Chamber that he would not provide defense in these appeal proceedings.
Kriuchkov also ignores court hearings, even in the online format, citing poor health and sick leave. However, he attends the hearings within the framework of another criminal proceeding. The defense attorneys emphasize that Kriuchkov's absence from this case is only a reaction to the actions of Judge Kruk.