While the Ukrainian information field is full of news of a possible Russian invasion, the work of anti-corruption bodies does not subside.

  • On February 17, a panel of HACC judges sentenced Viktor Sys, ex-head of the Hutiansk Forestry Station, to 5.5 years in prison with confiscation of property.

In February 2019, NABU detectives launched an investigation into Sis’ possible abuse of office. According to the investigation, he and the heads of the LLCs controlled by him organized a scheme to sell wood at discounted prices. As a result, the state forest enterprise received less than UAH 50 mln.

On October 30, 2019, Sys was detained offering USD 100,000 to a NABU detective for facilitating the closure of criminal proceedings. More about the case can be found at the link.

  • On February 18, the HACC acquitted three people involved in the UAH 69 mln theft case of Ukrzaliznytsia: Petro Naumenko, ex-deputy general director of AT Ukrzaliznytsia, Yurii Merkulov, former head of Ukrzaliznytsia’s main commercial department, and Liliia Petrenko, deputy head of the branch office on commercial matters of SE Ukrainian Transport Logistics Center.

In February 2014, these three were members of the Tariff Commission of the State Administration of Railway Transport. According to the investigation, in early 2014, this commission made a decision and set reduced tariffs for freight forwarding companies. However, they did not fulfil their obligations under the guaranteed volume of transportation, and received benefits from Ukrzaliznytsia. This caused losses to the State Administration of Railway Transport of over UAH 69 mln.

  • The HACC Appeals Chamber did NOT confiscate the flat of MP Mykhailo Volynets. On February 18, the panel of judges of the HACC AC refused the claim of SAPO prosecutors and upheld the first-instance decision.

Earlier, the SAPO filed a claim to declare the MP’s assets unjustified. In June 2020, he purchased a three-room apartment in the complex “Boulevard of Fountains” and registered two parking spaces with a total value of over UAH 7 mln. It is unknown where the UAH 3 mln came from, so, according to prosecutors, such funds should have been recognized as unreasonably acquired and collected to the national budget.

  • MP Kuzminykh has not yet been chosen an interim measure, but the HACC decided on a compulsory process. That is, the MP must be forcibly brought to court. The next hearing is scheduled for February 24, at 10:00 am.

On February 17, another court hearing took place, which the MP did not attend. According to the lawyer, it was due to illness. Among the previous reasons for not choosing an interim measure were “very serious” ones:

– the MP came to the first hearing, but without the passport. Because of this, the judge was unable to identify him, and Kuzminykh’s lawyer stopped recognizing her client at all;

– the MP failed to appear at the next hearing because of going to Zhytomyr to get his passport;

– On February 11, everyone was finally present — the passport, Kuzminykh, and his lawyer. The latter insisted on a lunch break, then demanded the recusal of the prosecutor for allegedly interfering in Kuzminykh’s personal life. This tactic was successful, and the hearing was postponed again;

– On February 16 the entire defense failed to appear in court — neither the MP, nor his lawyer.

  • Triumphs: HACC’s institutional independence has strengthened. The Kyiv City Council decided to transfer to the permanent use of the HACC a land plot in Kyiv at 41. Peremohy Avenue. We have repeatedly stressed the need to provide the HACC with its own premises. In particular, this was one of our recommendations in the study of the capacity, management, and interaction of anti-corruption infrastructure bodies.