Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) on Wednesday announced new suspicions in a major corruption case involving the former head of the Supreme Court.
According to NABU’s Tuesday press release, the suspects include three sitting Supreme Court judges and one retired judge who previously served on the Grand Chamber.
Investigators allege the judges received illegal payments in exchange for ruling in favor of the owner of the Finance and Credit group in a major corporate dispute.
Case linked to Poltava mining shares dispute
According to investigators, the case centers on a legal dispute involving a 40% stake in the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant purchased in 2002 by the businessman linked to the Finance and Credit group.
A lower court initially rejected attempts by former shareholders to invalidate the purchase agreement. However, an appeals court overturned that decision in 2022 and declared the agreement invalid.
Due to the case’s complexity, it was later reviewed by the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court.
NABU alleges that during March and April 2023, the businessman transferred $2.7 million through an intermediary to a lawyer described by investigators as part of a “back office” connected to the Supreme Court.
Investigators say the funds were intended for the then-head of the Supreme Court and other judges in exchange for a favorable ruling.
NABU and SAPO said the new suspicions became possible after investigators obtained additional evidence they considered sufficient to bring charges.
Following this, on Tuesday, NABU and SAPO said they were conducting searches and other investigative actions as part of the broader corruption case.
In a joint statement, the agencies said the measures targeted the workplaces, homes and vehicles of several current and former Supreme Court judges, as well as individuals linked to the case. Authorities said additional details would be released later.
The case stems from May 2023, when law enforcement detained then-Supreme Court Chairman Vsevolod Kniaziev in a $2.7 million bribery investigation, as Ukraine sought to intensify anti-corruption reforms tied to closer EU integration.
Investigators said Kniaziev and a lawyer were caught receiving a second tranche of $450,000 in an alleged bribery scheme. A day later, the Supreme Court plenum voted no confidence in Kniaziev, removing him from the position of chairman.
More than 10 Supreme Court judges may have been involved.
SAPO prosecutors said the bribe was split into 13 parcels: 10 of $100,000 each, 2 of $150,000 each, and 1 of $50,000.
Ukrainian media reported that the money was allegedly linked to individuals acting in the interests of businessman Kostyantyn Zhevago, owner of the Finance and Credit group.
In August 2023, investigators also named Zhevago as a suspect, but Zhevago’s press service denied any involvement in bribery.
NABU and SAPO formally announced suspicions against Kniaziev and the lawyer on May 16, 2026.
Kniaziev was released from pretrial detention in January 2024 after posting bail of $2.9 million.
The Supreme Court permanently dismissed him from his judicial position in December 2024.