The Odrex Doctors Case: More Than Half of September Hearings Did Not Take Place

The high-profile case concerning possible medical negligence by doctors at the private clinic Odrex, linked to the death of businessman Adnan Kivan, has been on trial for about 10 months. In September the proceedings stalled again amid motions, recusals, and absences by the defense.

The Kyiv District Court of Odesa is hearing the criminal case against Odrex doctors Vitaliy Rusakov and Maryna Bielotserkovska. They are accused of improper performance of professional duties under part 1 of article 140 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. According to the investigation, the doctors’ actions or omissions during the treatment of Adnan Kivan may have led to complications and the patient’s death. The accused deny guilt. The court must determine whether the doctors’ actions met medical standards and whether there was a causal link between the treatment and the businessman’s death. Read also: Death of Adnan Kivan: court resumed examination of evidence in the Odrex doctors case More than half of the hearings in September did not take place For September the court scheduled as many as 13 hearings. That schedule was intended to allow the continuation of evidence examination and to move to one of the key stages of the trial — hearing the medical expert. However, of the 13 hearings set, only six took place. Seven more were postponed or the court was unable to move to substantive consideration of the case. The series of postponements prompted a reaction from the court After Rusakov’s lawyers twice requested adjournments due to participation in other proceedings, presiding judge Viktor Chaplytskyi found their absences to be without good cause and announced his intention to forward the information to the disciplinary bodies of the bar. Earlier RBC-Ukraine had already reported that the case had repeatedly stalled because of defense absences and procedural motions. In July, when the indictment had been with the court for more than seven months, a full examination of the evidence had not yet begun. After the case was transferred from the Prymorskyi to the Kyiv District Court of Odesa, the preparatory stage had to be repeated. In August the process finally moved to evidence examination. Even then it was noted that a steady pace had not been established: hearings continued to be postponed due to absences of defense representatives. The medical expert has still not been heard One of the key stages of the process is to hear the medical expert. He is to provide the court with professional explanations regarding the medical records, the conclusions of expert examinations, treatment protocols, and the possible existence of a causal link between the doctors’ actions and the patient’s death. The court has been trying to get to this stage since spring. Read also: Awaiting the expert: are the Odrex doctors’ lawyers preparing a renewed change of jurisdiction Why timing matters Statutes of limitations have particular significance in this case. Adnan Kivan died in October 2024, and for the crime the doctors are accused of under part 1 of article 140 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine the law sets a time limit. After it expires the issue of releasing the defendants from criminal liability may arise. That is why each new postponement delays not only the trial but also brings it closer to this procedural threshold.

What is known about the case of Adnan Kivan Recall that KADORR Group founder Adnan Kivan died on 28 October 2024. He was receiving treatment for an oncological disease at a private clinic in Odesa. In October 2025 two doctors, an oncologist and a surgeon from the Odrex clinic, were accused of official negligence (under part 1 of article 140 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) that could have led to the patient’s death.