Closing arguments concluded today in the case of fugitive former MP Andrii Derkach. Since he fled to Russia and is evading justice, the case is being heard in absentia. The next stage is the delivery of the verdict.
Today the defense presented its closing argument. Counsel disagreed with the prosecution's position, insisting that part of the prosecution's evidence is inadmissible and that a number of violations occurred during the pre-trial investigation. They argued that their own evidence confirms the lawfulness of Derkach's actions — that they did not exceed the bounds of his parliamentary mandate. The defense also maintained that Derkach's cooperation with representatives of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces has not been proven, and asked the court to acquit him of both high treason and illicit enrichment.
The prosecutor delivered his closing argument at the previous hearing on June 9, arguing that Derkach's guilt is fully established by witness testimony, correspondence, physical evidence, and expert examinations.
The investigation documented how during 2019–2020 Derkach regularly met in Moscow with Russian GRU representatives and immediately afterward held large-scale press conferences aimed at discrediting Ukraine internationally. Forensic linguistic and semantic-textual examinations confirmed both the discussion of receiving a bribe to finance this activity and the subversive nature of his statements.
The prosecutor argued that through his press conferences Derkach consistently executed six media assignments from Russian intelligence services, designed to create the “illusion of external control” over Ukraine:
- Discrediting the anti-corruption system — promoting the narrative that pre-trial investigation bodies are ineffective and allegedly “unconstitutional”;
- Manufacturing artificial conspiracies — using “house of cards” methods, fabricating fictitious connections and figures to project an image of expertise;
- Audio manipulation — publishing edited recordings of conversations between Petro Poroshenko and Joe Biden to discredit the institution of the presidency;
- Attacking international support — framing US financial assistance as “looting Ukraine”;
- Weakening Ukraine's negotiating position — provoking public grievance and disillusionment by portraying Ukrainian authorities as the weaker party in relations with Russia;
- Undermining EU integration — promoting the notion that Ukraine should not draw closer to the West and that cooperation with Russia is “the only right path.”
Derkach is charged with high treason and illicit enrichment. According to the investigation, between 2019 and 2022 he received at least $567,000 from Russian intelligence services and used the funds for information attacks against Ukraine, including efforts to derail EU integration and damage relations with Western partners. His case has been under review at HACC since December 2023.
