Corrupt Judge Zvarych trial may become second Nuremberg

Thus, the Supreme Administrative Court Judge Oleksandr Paseniuk, the Chief Judge of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast court Petro Cherepij as well as other case suspects have admitted that the bribes of over $100,000 have changed hands.

“Cherepij, now under the pledge not to travel, has admitted giving a $150,000 bribe to Zvarych. Zvarych himself admitted giving a $140,000 bribe to Paseniuk,” one of the prosecutors said.

In all, there are 9 suspects in this high-profile case, all of them judges. As Verkhovna Rafa reconvenes on Sept. 1, the investigators will request lawmakers to strip the judges of their immunity to prosecution. The suspects had lavish lifestyles, going abroad with their lovers, the source added.

According to the source, the prosecuting team head, Volodymyr Zhebrytsky, once said that the Zvarych case will turn into another Nuremberg trial, with some 20 judges finding themselves in the dock.

Zhebrytsky refused to comment on the prosecution until the case has been tried by court.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prosecutor General Renat Kuzmin said the case was investigated professionally, and he expects the guilt of Zvarych and other suspects will be proven in court. However, given “the weird ways of the judicial system,” anything might happen, Kuzmin warned.