On July 18, 2024, the High Council of Justice (HCJ) upheld the decision of the First Disciplinary Chamber of the HCJ dated June 17 regarding the disciplinary liability of the former head of the Supreme Court, Vsevolod Kniazev, in the form of a submission for his dismissal from the position of judge. However, for Kniazev's final dismissal from the position of judge, the HCJ needs to approve this decision in a plenary session.
Recall that a month ago, the former head of the Supreme Court was temporarily suspended from performing judicial duties based on a decision by the First Disciplinary Chamber of the High Council of Justice.
The decision to hold the judge disciplinarily liable and to impose a disciplinary sanction in the form of a motion for dismissal from the position was made as a result of the consideration of a disciplinary case opened on April 15, 2024, following an appeal from the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).
On December 13, 2023, the Head of the NACP drew up a report on an administrative offense under Part 1 of Article 172-5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses against the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
In violation of the prohibition provided for in Part 2 of Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine "On Prevention of Corruption," Vsevolod Kniazev received a gift in the form of an apartment rental in the Pechersk district (Lypky) of Kyiv with an area of 133 sq. m. at a price significantly lower than the minimum market rental value.
Based on the real estate lease agreement concluded at the end of 2017, the judge rented the apartment for a monthly fee of 1,000 UAH. It was the difference in the actual and minimum market rental value that constituted this illegal gift.
On December 26, 2023, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv imposed an administrative penalty on Vsevolod Kniazev in the form of a fine of 2,550 UAH, as well as the confiscation of the gift amounting to 906,600 UAH.
On March 11, 2024, the Kyiv Court of Appeal denied his appeal against the decision of the Pechersk District Court, which found him guilty of violating the established legal restrictions on receiving gifts. Following the appellate review, the NACP filed a complaint with the High Council of Justice.
Since Kniazev was found guilty of committing a corruption-related offense, information about him was entered into the Unified State Register of Persons who Committed Corruption or Corruption-Related Offenses.
