High Anti-Corruption Court remands former Supreme Court Chief Justice Kniazev in custody for 60 days

The SAPO and NABU exposed Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniazev while he was receiving part of the illegal benefit. Law enforcers demanded that the judge be taken into custody so that he would not conceal the other part. The investigating judge's decision was broadcast from the courtroom.

On May 15, the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Vsevolod Kniazev, and a lawyer were detained while handing over USD 450,000. After that, on May 16, the Plenum of the Supreme Court prematurely terminated Kniazev's powers as Chief Justice.

On May 17, the High Council of Justice granted consent to the detention of the former Chief Justice Kniazev. On the same day, the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court sent lawyer Oleh Horetskyi to custody. According to law enforcement, Horetskyi was an intermediary between the former Chief Justice, Kniazev, and the persons who gave him bribes. He was at the scene when law enforcement officers detained Kniazev with the money.

Horetskyi could be released on bail of UAH 80 million. Instead, bail for Kniazev was set at UAH 107 million, although prosecutors demanded a higher bail of UAH 150 million.