Ukraine: Another judge arrested on suspicion of corruption

Status: 05/16/2023 3:56 p.m

Investigators have arrested another judge in the alleged corruption scandal at the Supreme Court of Ukraine. The court president had previously been caught handing over alleged bribes.

In Ukraine, anti-corruption investigators have arrested another Supreme Court judge. “At the moment, investigations into the judges and the middlemen are underway,” said the head of the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office, Olexander Klymenko, at a press conference. He has not yet released the name of the second arrested person.

Court President arrested while handing over money

Previously, investigators had already announced the arrest of the president of the court, Vsevolod Knyasiev. He was convicted when he received $3 million (€2.76 million). Investigators believe it was a bribe. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) published a photo of bundles of banknotes on a couch. There were different statements as to whether the arrest took place on Monday or Tuesday.

The investigators have not yet announced exactly how the alleged bribes are said to have taken place. Ukrainian media reported that the money came from a Ukrainian oligarch living in France. He has already denied the allegations.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine published a photo with bundles of money on Facebook.

Judges agree to cooperation

“There is bribe money, there is a motive, the fact has been established, there are specific people,” said NABU boss Semen Krywonos, who only took over the post in March. The arrest of the 43-year-old Knyasiev was the “most sensational procedure” since his authority was founded in 2015. The judge was appointed chairman of the Supreme Court in October 2021.

The college of the court held an extraordinary session because of the raids. The judges were “shocked” by the allegations and spoke of a “black day in the history of the court”. They would voluntarily and fully cooperate with the authorities, they said.

anti-corruption central task for EU accession

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi had repeatedly promised a more determined fight against the culture of bribery in his country. Above all, Zelenskyy wants to show that Ukraine is ready to negotiate for membership in the European Union.

Ukraine is hoping for progress from the meeting with the EU Commission in Kiev.
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