You're reading: Korniychuk, his lawyer declare petition to recuse judge

Leader of the Ukrainian Social-Democratic Party (USDP) and former First Deputy Justice Minister of Ukraine Yevhen Korniychuk and his lawyer Ihor Fomin have declared a petition to recuse the judge of Kyiv Perchersk District court, who is to hear the Korniychuk's case.

An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that Fomin read a petition to recuse the judge at a preliminary hearing on March 4, 2011. The lawyer explained the removal of the judge by doubts in neutrality of Judge Oksana Tsarevych, as she has been a judge only for three months.

The lawyer said that the permanent jury should hear the case.

Korniychuk also said that the judge cannot hear the case. He expressed hope that the court would be neutral and justly hear the case.

As reported, on December 22, 2010, the Prosecutor General’s Office detained Korniychuk. On December 30, the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv ordered Korniychuk to be taken into custody for two months as a pre-trial restriction, and then he was transferred to a Kyiv pre-trial detention center.

On February 15, the investigator changed the pre-trial restrictions on Korniychuk, from arrest to a written undertaking not to leave Kyiv.

Korniychuk is charged with abuse of office, which entailed grave consequences and forgery.