High Council of Justice supports the dismissal of Vsevolod Kniazev, but there’s a catch

Today, on July 18, the High Council of Justice (HCJ) endorsed the decision of the First Disciplinary Chamber regarding the dismissal of Vsevolod Kniazev, the former President of the Supreme Court, who was exposed for accepting a bribe of nearly $3 million.

However, the recommendation for his dismissal was not based on the bribe but rather on renting an apartment at an undervalued price. According to a decision by the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv, Kniazev rented a 130-square-meter apartment in central Kyiv for 1000 UAH, violating anti-corruption laws.

Additionally, since May 2023, the HCJ has had another complaint from DEJURE Foundation based on criminal case materials directly concerning the bribe, which should have resulted in Kniazev’s dismissal. This complaint has not been reviewed for over six months, despite all necessary materials being provided by the NABU and SAPO. However, the rapporteur, Serhiy Burlakov, has delayed its consideration.

Regrettably, today’s complaint review will likely result in the case being closed, and the HCJ will never establish justice in this matter.

It is also worth noting that Kniazev is not the only figure in the $2.7 million bribe case who has not faced any punishment. As of today, four judges of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court, who were found with banknotes matching the investigation data, are not only not suspects but remain in their positions. Additionally, 13 Supreme Court judges, for whom Kniaziev allegedly prepared envelopes with money according to case materials, remain unpunished.

Recently, the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court made a decision allowing 180 judges with compromised integrity to retain their positions. It is crucial to renew the Supreme Court, a call consistently made by civil society representatives and international partners, including the European Commission and G7 Ambassadors.