KDAC case sent to court

On June 17, 2022, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor`s Office (SAPO) issued indictments against 11 persons accused of attempts to seize state power and obstruct the work of the High Qualification Commission of Judges, participation in criminal organization and abuse of influence.

The accused are:

• the KDAC Chairman;
• 2 KDAC Deputy Chairmen;
• 4 KDAC judges;
• the Head of the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine;
• 2 persons (lawyers);
• a person.

According to the investigation, the accused acted within a criminal organization led by the KDAC Chairman aiming at seizing state power by establishing control over the High Qualification Commission of Judges, the High Council of Justice, and intentionally impeding their work.

As established, the organization made decisions in its own interests, as well as in the interests of political elites and business circles.

The investigation has been in progress since July 2020 after the transfer of case materials from the Prosecutor General's Office.

In March 2021, NABU completed the investigation and disclosed the case file.

The overall volume of wiretapping in the case exceeds 16 thousand hours. At the same time, the KDAC Chairman and judges repeatedly evaded pre-trial procedures, violated their procedural duties, and hindered the completion of the investigation.

Given the delay in reviewing the case files, the investigating judge set 15.06.2022 as a deadline for the defense to accomplish the review.