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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
VAKS again postponed the Kuzminykh case: the new lawyer had not yet familiarized himself with the materials.
The hearing of the case of People's Deputy from Servant of the People Serhiy Kuzminykh at the High Anti-Corruption Court was postponed again. This time the reason was a replacement of the defender, who had not had time to fully review the case materials.
This became known during the VAKS session.
The court prolonged the break until 28 September 12:30. According to the defense, the new lawyer has so far reviewed only part of the case materials. Previously, the hearing was also postponed due to defenders’ unpreparedness for the process.
The judge noted that due to another change of the lawyer, the case review has already lost about a month. She also reminded that Kuzminykh had repeatedly stated readiness to testify, but the process continues to be postponed due to the defense’s actions.
Separately, the court discussed the participation of the new lawyer, who joined the session remotely. The defense stated that during the videoconference it was allegedly impossible to ensure confidential communication between the lawyer and the defendant. At the same time, the defender himself did not appear in court, although, according to the judge, he could have come earlier to speak with Kuzminykh in person.
VAKS gave the defense time until 28 September, but warned that this is the final deadline. Further delays in the process could be treated as abuse of procedural rights and violations of the requirement for reasonable timeframes.
The court also stressed that after 30, the volumes of the case materials are available in the Electronic Court. Therefore, the lawyer can familiarize himself with them remotely, without the need to personally review each volume in court.
Statutes of limitations in the case expire in January 2027 year. By that time, VAKS must question Kuzminykh, finish the trial, and render a verdict. In case of an appeal, the decision must also be considered by the VAKS Appellate Chamber.
This is not the first postponement of hearings in the case. Previously they were rescheduled due to Kuzminykh’s illnesses, his business trips, participation in Rada votes, and the absence of defenders.
Kuzminykh is accused of promising to facilitate, for a bribe measured in 558 hryvnias, the conclusion of contracts between private pharmaceutical companies and a hospital in Zhytomyr region. The guilt of the deputy is to be established by the court.
Document: PDF proof of the republished news item "ВАКС знову відклав справу Кузьміних: новий адвокат не встиг ознайомитися з матеріалами" after a recorded deletion or page unavailability. Source: ANTIKOR.
