The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine held a preparatory hearing in the case regarding the alleged illegal enrichment of former Deputy Head of the President’s Office Andriy Smyrnov. During the hearing, the parties discussed the composition of participants for the upcoming proceedings, the order of evidence examination, and the process of witness interrogation.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Defense Lawyers Request Collegial Consideration
Andriy Smyrnov’s defenders insisted that the case be heard not by a single judge but by a panel of judges, submitting a corresponding motion. According to lawyer Yuriy Ivanchyenko, this decision is intended to ensure maximum objectivity in the case review.
“This is not about trust, Your Honor; we undoubtedly trust you, but it is about the desire of the defense to do everything possible for the court to objectively assess the arguments of both sides”
Additionally, the lawyers announced their intention to file a motion to change the jurisdiction, as they believe that another court should conduct the proceedings.
Charges and Position of the Parties
The court supported the defense’s motion, and thus, an automatic distribution will determine additional judges. After that, a date for the next preparatory hearing will be set. In a comment to journalists, Andriy Smyrnov expressed doubts regarding the validity of the evidence in the case.
Prosecutor Rostyslav Batih stated that the prosecution has gathered sufficient evidence of Smyrnov’s involvement, and these materials will be presented during the substantive hearing of the case. Among the evidence are documents from the President’s Office, materials from searches, and correspondence between the individuals involved.
Andriy Smyrnov held the position of Deputy Head of the President’s Office from 2019 until March 2024. He was notified of suspicion two months after his dismissal.
According to the investigation, Smyrnov is suspected of illegal enrichment amounting to 15.7 million hryvnias, laundering these funds through housing construction in the Odesa region, and receiving a bribe of 100,000 dollars. According to the detectives, he facilitated the Antimonopoly Committee’s decision in favor of the construction company Chernyshev Group. Its head, Ihor Chernyshev, who was present at the hearing, also received suspicion in 2025 for providing unlawful benefits along with Smyrnov.