Bail Option Revoked for Oleksandr Dubinsky
The Kyiv Court of Appeal has ruled that Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Dubinsky, suspected of state treason, must remain in custody without the option of posting bail. This decision upholds an appeal filed by prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General, effectively overturning a lower court's earlier provision for an alternative to detention. The case highlights Ukraine's ongoing efforts to address internal security threats amid the war with Russia.
Previously, Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi District Court had extended Dubinsky's pre-trial detention until January 2026 but set bail as an alternative at over 33.28 million hryvnias (approximately $800,000). The appellate court has now revoked this bail possibility, agreeing with the prosecution's arguments that substantial risks exist. These risks, as outlined in criminal procedural law, include potential witness tampering, obstruction of the investigation, and evasion of justice.
Charges and Associated Risks
Oleksandr Dubinsky was formally notified of suspicion of state treason on November 13, 2023. According to case materials, he traveled to Saint Petersburg on October 11-12, 2019, where he met with representatives of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. A month after this visit to Russia, Dubinsky, alongside fellow lawmaker Andrii Derkach, held a press conference aimed at discrediting a candidate in the U.S. presidential election.
- Andrii Derkach was reportedly recruited by hostile intelligence services in April 2019.
- He fled to Russia following the full-scale invasion.
- Derkach has also been charged in absentia with state treason in Ukraine.
Law enforcement additionally suspects Dubinsky of forging official documents for travel abroad and illegally smuggling other individuals across the state border. Dubinsky is known to have used the operational alias 'Buratino.' The cases against him continue to be a major focus for investigators and remain under significant public scrutiny.
The revocation of Oleksandr Dubinsky's bail option underscores the gravity of the charges and the determination of law enforcement agencies to combat crimes against the state.
Source: law enforcement agencies
This ruling is likely to impact the future course of the case, as it confirms judicial concerns about potential interference in the proceedings. Dubinsky's case has generated considerable interest due to its implications for Ukraine's national security and foreign policy, creating a tense atmosphere around its eventual outcome.