Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Court marks 7 years: 431 verdicts, 398 convictions

Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) marks its seventh anniversary this week. Just days before, new details emerged in investigations involving Iryna Mudra, a former deputy head of the Presidential Office now under National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) suspicion, and Maksym Mykytas, a former lawmaker and developer repeatedly implicated in NABU probes.

On September 2, during a hearing on Mudra's pretrial restraint, HACC Appeals Chamber judge Mykola Hlotov read out excerpts of conversations suggesting friendly ties between certain judges and Mudra, possible attempts to influence the election of the court's chairperson, and leaks related to cases involving Mykytas. The recordings reportedly discussed which judges should be approached ahead of the chairmanship contest. Mudra confirmed in court that she had met with one of the judges but denied this proved any influence. No claim of undue influence has been proven, and in March the chairmanship contest was won by judge Ihor Strohyi.

Seven years of results

Over seven years, HACC has issued 431 verdicts covering 601 people — 398 convictions (211 based on plea agreements) and 33 acquittals. Those convicted include judges, prosecutors, state enterprise heads, government officials, and former and sitting lawmakers. For the first time, a sitting member of parliament, Anatoliy Hunko, received an actual prison sentence. The court also handles civil asset forfeiture cases, having confiscated unexplained assets from 48 officials worth nearly 230 million hryvnias in total.

Notable cases include former State Fiscal Service head Roman Nasirov, sentenced to six years for illegally deferring tax payments that cost the state over 2 billion hryvnias. Lawmaker Hunko received four years on appeal for bribery-related charges, while former judge Mykola Chaus was sentenced to eight years and six months for bribery after years hiding in Moldova. Former Supreme Court chairman Vsevolod Kniaziev received five years under a plea deal over a $1.8 million bribe.

However, several high-profile cases, including those against Mykola Martynenko and Mykytas, remain unresolved after years, due partly to legislative loopholes and partly to inactivity by some judges. Around 86 criminal proceedings are currently at risk of being closed because of statutory procedural deadlines.