Kyiv Court Orders Home Confinement for MP Shufrych, Rejects Bail in Treason Case

Nestor Shufrych Released from Pre-Trial Detention

According to Главком: On April 16, Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi District Court ordered the release of MP Nestor Shufrych from custody and placed him under house arrest until June 16. Shufrych, who faces charges of state treason, had been held in a pre-trial detention facility for two years and seven months. The court ruled that the previously set bail of 33.2 million hryvnias could not be paid due to personal sanctions and asset freezes imposed by Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC). The decision also cited the defendant's health condition. This ruling is final and cannot be appealed.

Shufrych's lawyers argued that paying bail was impossible due to the sanctions and that his health had deteriorated. In its decision, the court invoked Article 3 of Ukraine's Constitution, which states that 'a person, his or her life and health, honour and dignity, inviolability and security are recognised in Ukraine as the highest social value.' This case highlights the complex legal challenges of prosecuting high-profile figures during wartime.

Terms of House Arrest

The court reviewed defense documents showing Shufrych had undergone multiple surgeries and required further medical care. The ruling stated that 'to avoid further deterioration of the defendant Shufrych's health and to provide him with the opportunity to receive proper medical assistance, his continued detention without alternative is impossible.'

The conditions of Shufrych's house arrest include:

• A prohibition on leaving his residence in the Kyiv region, except to seek medical help or go to a shelter;
• A requirement to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Prosecutors warned of risks, including that Shufrych might flee, illegally influence witnesses or experts, or commit another crime.

Shufrych was initially suspected of state treason in September 2023, related to alleged cooperation with former NSDC Deputy Secretary Volodymyr Sivkovych, who fled to Moscow in 2014. During searches, collections of Soviet awards and Russian military uniforms were found at Shufrych's property. In February 2024, a new suspicion was announced, alleging he financed the Russian National Guard in occupied Crimea, which caused significant public outcry.

Shufrych's former aide, Vyacheslav Cherepnya, also faces suspicion for similar activities in Crimea and was placed under house arrest in February 2025. The Shufrych case remains under intense public scrutiny due to its serious nature and political implications. His release under house arrest has sparked debate in Ukrainian society, with observers concerned about potential interference in the investigation and the broader impact on the country's political landscape during a time of war.

This recent ruling marks a significant shift in the ongoing legal saga surrounding Shufrych, particularly as it follows his transfer from pre-trial detention. For a deeper understanding of the circumstances leading to his house arrest, including the implications of his legal battles, you can read more about the details of his case.