Court permits special investigation into businessman Zhevaho in case involving ex-Supreme Court chief Kniazev

The Appeal Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court (AC HACC) has granted permission to conduct a special pre-trial investigation against businessman Kostiantyn Zhevaho in the bribery case of the former Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine Vsevolod Kniazev.

"On October 15, the Appeal Chamber of the HACC considered the appeal of the prosecution against the ruling of the investigating judge of the HACC dated 04.09.2025 on the refusal to conduct a special pre-trial investigation against the Ukrainian businessman, who is currently abroad," the Appeal Chamber of HACC said Telegram on Wednesday.

The message notes that, based on the results of the consideration, the panel of judges of the Appeal Chamber of HACC satisfied the appeal of the prosecution, canceled the ruling of the investigating judge of the HACC and made a new ruling, which satisfied the petition to conduct a special pre-trial investigation and granted permission to conduct it.

The decision entered into force from the moment of its announcement and is not subject to appeal in cassation.

According to the investigation, the specified person is suspected of possibly providing an illegal benefit to the former chairman and judges of the Supreme Court (Part 4 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The Appeal Chamber of HACC does not specify names, as the agency was told by an informed source, it refers to businessman Zhevaho, who is currently abroad, as well as former Supreme Court Chairman Kniazev, whose bribery case is being considered in court.

As reported, on May 18, 2023, law enforcement officers announced the exposure of Kniazev in receiving illegal benefit of $2.7 million for a decision in favor of businessman Zhevaho in the case of Poltava Mining. In early October, the investigation into the case of the former Supreme Court Chairman was completed.

On January 30, 2024, the investigating judge of the Supreme Court of Criminal Procedure extended the preventive measure of Kniazev in the form of detention and reduced the suspect's bail to UAH 18.168 million, on January 31 he was released from custody on bail. On May 27, by court decision, the electronic bracelet was removed from Kniazev, who was accused of bribery.

At the end of August 2024, the Supreme Court of Criminal Procedure began consideration of the merits of the criminal proceedings on Kniazev's accusation of receiving a bribe.

As part of investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) into Zhevaho and his accomplices' suspicion of embezzling $113 million from the Finance and Credit bank, the corporate rights of 16 enterprises that are part of the oligarch's orbit were seized and transferred to the Asset Recovery and Management (ARMA), including 49.5% of the authorized capital of PrJSC Poltava Mining.

The decree of the President of Ukraine put into effect the NSDC decision on sanctions against Zhevaho.