The Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv partially granted the prosecution’s motion to extend the term of detention of businessman Ihor Kolomoiskyi until 2 June 2024 with an alternative bail of UAH 1 billion 960 million.
The court ruling was announced by investigator Judge Oksana Holub.
"To extend the term of the preventive measure in the form of detention for Ihor Kolomoiskyi... for 42 days, i.e. until 2 June 2024 inclusive," the judge said when announcing the court’s ruling.
The court also set bail in the amount of UAH 1 billion 968 million 200 thousand and ordered the head of the SSU temporary detention centre to ensure that Kolomoisky’s rights to receive proper medical care are respected, in particular, in terms of conducting a medical examination in accordance with his health complaints and ensuring that he can receive appropriate treatment (in accordance with the diagnosis).
Prosecutor of the Prosecutor General’s Office Serhiy Demyanchuk, representing the prosecution, stated that further investigative actions should be carried out as part of the pre-trial investigation.
According to Demyanchuk, Kolomoiskyi’s preventive measure in the form of detention was due to expire on 25 April. In this regard, the prosecutor requested to extend the term of Kolomoisky’s detention within the pre-trial investigation until 2 June 2024 with an alternative of bail in the amount of UAH 2 billion 300 million.
At the same time, the court reduced the bail amount to UAH 1 billion 968 million 200 thousand.
In addition, Prosecutor Demyanchuk noted that the risks identified in the previous rulings of the investigating judges continue to exist. These risks include the risk of absconding from the pre-trial investigation and court, the risk of destruction, concealment and distortion of documents, and the risk of unlawful influence on witnesses and other suspects.
According to the prosecutor, in order to complete the pre-trial investigation, it is necessary to interrogate the defence witnesses. He said it was more than 50 witnesses.
In turn, Kolomoiskyi’s defence team called the prosecutor’s position unfounded and that the risks listed were not substantiated.
Lawyer Oleh Pushkar stressed that no risks have been proven. According to him, Kolomoiskyi’s months-long detention "looks a bit like torture", as the businessman has not been allowed to see his wife and is denied medical care.
"As for the amount of bail, it is astronomical. But the worst part is that it is not clear what it is based on. There is not a single document to substantiate it. Why 2 billion 300 million? There is no confirmation, no calculation, no formula. And everyone understands that no one will be able to pay the sum of 2 billion 300 million," Pushkar stressed.
The defence counsel noted that there were no grounds for extending the term of detention.
Defence lawyer Viacheslav Krahlevych noted that there is no corpus delicti in the criminal proceedings against Kolomoiskyi.
According to the defence lawyer, if Kolomoiskyi was free, he could assist the investigation in carrying out any investigative actions.
Krahlevych stressed that since October, it has not been possible to conduct a proper medical examination of Kolomoisky’s health, in particular after the discovery of kidney stones, and to conduct appropriate treatment. Kolomoisky also has chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and there is still no possibility to conduct a proper check.
Counsel Oleksandr Lysak stressed that the need for further investigative actions and interrogation of more than 50 people cannot be a ground for keeping his client Kolomoiskyi in custody.
"There are no grounds to satisfy the motion to extend the period of detention, as such a motion, in my opinion, is groundless and unfounded and not properly executed," Lysak said.
In his turn, businessman Ihor Kolomoisky believes that the case against him is falsified.