The Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court overturned the dismissal of three KAC judges whom NABU exposed on a $35,000 bribe

The Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court overturned the dismissal of three KAC judges whom NABU exposed on a $35,000 bribe

The Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court overturned the decision of the High Council of Justice (HCJ) to dismiss three controversial judges of the Kyiv Court of Appeal. The judges in question are Ihor Palenyk, Yuriy Slyva, and Viktor Hlynyanyi. 

The same ones whom NABU and SAPO caught taking a $35,000 bribe in the “Motor Sich” case, packaged in coffee bags and whiskey boxes.

The decision is final and not subject to appeal. And guess what the official reason is? Not a lack of evidence or the absence of a crime. Procedure! The poor judges were “deprived of the right to be genuinely heard.”

What happened? In March 2025, the HCJ was reviewing appeals against their dismissal. The case was listed 14th on the agenda for 10:00 a.m. At 4:30 p.m. the same day, the judges had a hearing scheduled at the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC). They filed a motion to postpone, but the HCJ rejected it and ruled in their absence.

The Grand Chamber found that this violated their right to defense and that the HCJ should have heard the appellants in person.

The case is now being sent back for a fresh review by the HCJ in plenary session, meaning all the evidence will have to be re-examined from scratch.

In other words, the judges now have a chance for a comeback and further delays. They could well be reinstated and, on top of that, receive substantial compensation.