SAP to Challenge Overturning of Charge Against Pasishnyk

The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) will challenge the decision of Solomianskyi District Court of Kyiv to overturn the charge against ex-CEO of Naftogaz Andrii Pasishnyk, the SAP press office cites Lead Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Nazar Kholodnytskyi.

The SAP considers the court’s decision unjustified. "While we fully respect the court, we consider its conclusions far-fetched and illegal. Thus we hope that the Court of Appeals will provide a justifiable and legitimate decision in this case," Kholodnytskyi claimed.

According to the SAP, the whole affair started on April 25 when it submitted a charge against Pasishnyk and the supportive documents to Solomianskyi District Court. He was accused of the ‘interference with the activities of a state official.’

On May 11, Solomianskyi Court ruled that this case was not within its competence. On May 24, the Court of Appeals confirmed the competence of Solomianskyi Court over this case.

The charge has been literally lost in the court registry for two months (between May 25 and July 25). This is a grave violation of the criminal procedure law which gives the court five days to have the date for consideration of the case appointed.

On August 4, Solomianskyi Court considered this case and returned it to the SAP, claiming that the charge was allegedly made in violation of the Code on Criminal Procedure. At the same time, the court imposed personal surveillance on Pasishnyk as a measure of restraint.

National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) detectives contend that during January 25—February 1, Pasishnyk was illegally interfering with the activities of Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavičius.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda