The High Anti-Corruption Court has handed down a sentence to former Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Knyazev
The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has released the verdict in the case of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Knyazev, who is implicated in a corruption case involving the receipt of illicit benefits.
According to court documents, Knyazev entered into a plea agreement with investigators on May 18 in the presence of his defense attorney, which was approved by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
He confirmed that he signed it voluntarily, without pressure or coercion, and agreed to a full admission of guilt.
The court also established that Knyazev undertook to cooperate with the investigation and provide testimony regarding other individuals involved in the corruption scheme.
The sentence includes the transfer of funds to the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
- $1 million seized during a search is to be transferred through the “Come Back Alive” fund;
- an additional $104,600 will also be directed toward supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In addition, the court ruled to confiscate significant assets, including:
- apartments and a house;
- over $200,000 in personal funds;
- as well as $1.25 million in illicit gains uncovered during the investigation.
According to the investigation, the case is linked to a bribery scheme involving approximately $2.7 million, which pertained to Supreme Court rulings in a case related to the business structures of businessman Kostyantyn Zhevago.
The verdict also notes that part of the funds was intended to influence the decision of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court regarding a corporate dispute surrounding the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant (PGZK).
The case was uncovered in May 2023, when NABU and the SAP announced the discovery of a corruption scheme within the Supreme Court’s leadership.
This is stated in the court ruling.
Prior to this, the preventive measure against former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ukraine Vsevolod Knyazev was extended. The court extended the term of the procedural obligations imposed on him.
We previously reported that a charitable foundation run by the leader of the “European Solidarity” party, MP Petro Poroshenko, paid the 9 million hryvnia bail for Roman Chervinsky, a former employee of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
We also recall that former Supreme Court Chairman Vladislav Knyazev was stopped near the village of Solotvyno in Zakarpattia, close to the border with Romania.
