The High Anti-Corruption Court postponed the hearing on Kropiva's pretrial detention
On Sunday, the High Anti-Corruption Court began hearing the case regarding a preventive measure for Serhiy Kropiva, deputy head of the Department of International Cooperation at the Office of the Prosecutor General. The hearing was postponed until 3:00 p.m. at the request of his defense team, which stated that it had received the motion only that morning and had not had time to prepare.
On Sunday, the High Anti-Corruption Court began a hearing on the selection of a pretrial measure for Serhiy Kropiva, deputy head of the Department of International Cooperation at the Office of the Prosecutor General. However, the hearing was postponed until 3:00 p.m. The reason was a motion filed by the defense. The attorneys stated that they had been handed the document requesting the imposition of a preventive measure only that morning, on the day of the hearing. As a result, they said, they did not have enough time to review the case materials and prepare their position.
“The defense asked to postpone the hearing, arguing that the motion had only been served that morning and there was no time to prepare for the hearing,” the Center for Political and Legal Analysis (CPLA) stated in a report. High Anti-Corruption Court Judge Andriy Maslov partially granted the defense’s request. He adjourned the hearing until 3:00 p.m. Thus, the court has not yet issued a final decision regarding the preventive measure for Kropiva. Once the hearing resumes, the court is expected to consider the arguments of both the prosecution and the defense.
What Kropiva Is Suspected Of
The day before, on September 4, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine announced the exposure of a criminal organization which, according to the investigation, operated within the Office of the Prosecutor General. According to law enforcement, the group was led by the head of one of the OGP’s departments. Investigators claim that members of the organization systematically received money from fraudulent call centers. Additionally, according to law enforcement, they were involved in laundering the funds they received.
According to the investigation, the organization may have been established as early as mid-2025. It allegedly recruited serving prosecutors and other individuals who did not hold official positions within the prosecutor’s office. Law enforcement officials believe that the scheme’s participants established a system of extortion targeting underground call centers. In exchange for money, they were allegedly allowed to continue operating without interference from law enforcement agencies.
These are call centers that, according to the investigation, defrauded Ukrainians and citizens of other countries on a massive scale. The receipt of money from representatives of such call centers is one of the key aspects currently being investigated by NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors.
Who Was Detained
According to “Ukrainska Pravda,” law enforcement officials detained Serhiy Kropiva, the head of one of the departments at the Office of the Prosecutor General. The case is currently in the pre-trial investigation stage. Therefore, any allegations regarding Kropiva’s or other suspects’ involvement in a criminal organization represent the investigation’s version of events and do not constitute a court-established finding of guilt.
It is during the hearing on the preventive measure that the court will evaluate the arguments presented by the prosecution and the defense’s objections. A preventive measure does not imply that a person has been found guilty. The court must determine whether there are risks that justify the imposition of a specific restriction for the duration of the investigation.
What Happens Next
After the recess, the High Anti-Corruption Court is expected to resume consideration of the motion regarding Serhiy Kropiva. The prosecution will have to substantiate its demands and explain why it considers it necessary to apply a specific pretrial measure to the suspect. The defense, for its part, will have the opportunity to present its arguments and challenge the prosecutors’ position.
The court’s decision will determine whether a preventive measure will be imposed on Kropiva and, if so, which one. The case has attracted attention because one of the individuals implicated in the investigation is an official from the Office of the Prosecutor General. According to the NABU and the SAPO, this is not a single instance of receiving an unlawful benefit, but rather the activities of an entire organization that may have facilitated the illegal operation of fraudulent call centers for years.
At the same time, only a court can reach a final conclusion regarding the guilt of any of the individuals involved after a full trial. For now, the High Anti-Corruption Court has only begun considering the issue of a pretrial restraint measure for Kropiva. The hearing will resume at 3:00 p.m., according to the Anti-Corruption Action Center.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the Ukrainian negotiating team ahead of his meeting with representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump. The head of state stated that Ukraine is ready for talks and wants to bring an end to the war, but at the same time insists on security guarantees and a dignified post-war peace.
