The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) of Ukraine have announced significant action against the country’s highest court in response to yet another large-scale corruption scandal in Ukraine.
“NABU and SAP have exposed large-scale corruption in the Supreme Court, in particular a scheme to obtain undue advantages by the leadership and judges of the Supreme Court,” the anti-corruption bodies announced on their official social media channels on Tuesday. NABU and SAP have uncovered a scheme by Supreme Court leadership and justices to obtain improper advantages. Given that this is the nation’s highest court and its chief justice, who is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the law, the situation is exceedingly embarrassing.
The oversight organizations assert that they have “documented the head of the Supreme Court receiving a $2.7 million bribe.” The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Vsevolod Knyazev, was detained on suspicion of accepting bribes, a member of the anti-corruption unit disclosed at a national news briefing. The official against corruption disclosed this information. During the inspection of the chief judge’s residence, the $2.7 million were discovered and seized.
“At this time, the head of the Supreme Court has been detained and measures are being taken to check other individuals for involvement in criminal activity,” a statement said further.
In October of 2021, Knyazev, who held a position comparable to that of the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, was elected to the position. Since then, he has been removed from office after a vote of “no confidence” by the other justices at a special session.
In addition, Ukrainian media reports allege that additional justices may be subject to seizures and arrests as part of the ongoing investigation into corruption. According to new information that has surfaced in Ukrainian media, this case appears to be only the top of the iceberg.
NABU Director Semen Kryvonos revealed that his bureau has documented a series of contacts between the owner of Finances and Credit Group, Kostiantyn Zhevaho, and one of the owners of an attorney group used to conceal criminal activities. These contacts involved an agreement regarding unlawful benefits in favor of high-ranking court officials for “rendering the necessary decision” in favor of the entrepreneur.
Businessman Zhevaho denies his involvement in the multimillion-dollar bribe, as stated in a press release issued by his spokesperson to Forbes.
“This is the most high-profile case during the tenure of NABU and SAP and the biggest exposure of a top-ranking official in the judicial branch of power,” said Kryvonos.
He said the suspects in the case also attempted to influence the appointment of members of the Higher Qualification Commission of Judges (VKKS), the body responsible for career-related matters within the judicial branch of power.
Ukraine, a country that consistently rates among the most corrupt nations in the world, has taken visible steps in recent months to combat the pervasive corruption that burdens the nation.
In the midst of the Russian invasion, tens of billions of dollars in aid from American taxpayers continue to flood into Kiev’s treasuries. In addition, Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, has reached an agreement in principle with President Zelensky to coordinate significant reconstruction investment in the war-ravaged country.
The escalating controversy surrounding the Supreme Court of Ukraine is not the first significant corruption revelation to surface since the start of the conflict, nor is it likely to be the last.
At the start of this year, it was discovered that the highest-ranking members of the Ukrainian military were implicated in a significant scandal…
Ukraine Rocked By Corruption Scandal, Wave Of Top Officials Resign: Sports Cars, Mansions & Luxury Vacations As People Suffered https://t.co/5gvsXbIkNx
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) January 24, 2023