The Kniaziev case: Supreme Court judges Hryhoriieva and Zheleznyi receive bail

The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has imposed a preventive measure in the form of bail on Supreme Court judges Iryna Hryhoriieva and Ihor Zheleznyi. For Hryhoriieva — UAH 2.5 million, and for Zheleznyi — UAH 2 million. A number of procedural obligations have also been placed on them.

Both judges are suspected of having conspired with former Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniaziev in May 2023 to accept a bribe from oligarch Kostiantyn Zhevaho in exchange for ruling in his favour.

In 2023, during searches, NABU detectives found marked banknotes on the judges. On Hryhoriieva — $50,000, on Zheleznyi — $10,000.

At today’s HACC hearing, the prosecutor emphasised that the investigation materials, including covert investigative measures, document the circumstances of the bribe’s transfer and distribution. Hryhoriieva’s defence claims that the $50,000 received from Kniaziev was a loan. The prosecutor, however, stated that during questioning on May 14, Kniaziev confirmed that offers of improper benefit had come from Zhevaho, and that the funds received were distributed among the judges of the Grand Chamber, including Hryhoriieva.

This story once again demonstrates that without genuine reform of the Supreme Court, corruption risks will not disappear. This requires two steps involving international experts with a decisive vote. First — a review of the integrity declarations of current Supreme Court judges. Second — the selection of judges for vacant positions in the Supreme Court.

Additionally, the High Council of Justice has had a disciplinary case open for two years against Iryna Hryhoriieva and Zhanna Yelenina. Yelenina also received a notice of suspicion from NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office in the Zhevaho bribery case. Yet there has been no real movement at the HCJ to date.

In April 2026, our lawyers filed a complaint with the HCJ regarding Ihor Zheleznyi as well. However, disciplinary inspector Zaika did not even designate it as a priority. We hope that the issuance of suspicion notices will finally compel the HCJ to move forward on these cases — and, along with them, on the reform of the Supreme Court, which the authorities, despite their commitments to the EU, continue to resist.