Ukraine’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Knyazev was arrested on corruption charges on Thursday, as prosecutors indicated that a high-level bribery case was expanding to include a wider circle of judges. Knyazev is accused of accepting a bribe of $1.8 million to influence a case in favor of a Ukrainian oligarch, Kostyantyn Zhevago. A lawyer was also apprehended with Knyazev in the act of handing over part of the bribe. At least three other Supreme Court judges have been implicated in the case, with investigators finding thousands of dollars in currency marked by investigators.
The case has shocked and dismayed members of Ukraine’s judiciary, and is seen as a sign that Ukraine’s anti-corruption law enforcement is proving its resilience even during a war. President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a show of cracking down on Ukraine’s endemic corruption, with numerous officials dismissed in January. Anti-corruption organizations have welcomed the investigation, but have called for Parliament to reinstate the system of declaration of assets by public officials.
The fight against corruption is seen as second in importance only to bringing Russia to justice for the war, and citizens are putting strong pressure on leaders to take action.