Court Rejects Health-Based Release Request of Former Lawmaker Anatolii Hunko

Anatolii Hunko's Court Ruling

According to Главком: Anatolii Hunko, a former Ukrainian parliament member currently serving his sentence at the Voznesensk Correctional Facility No. 72, had sought early release due to health reasons. The Voznesensk City District Court in Mykolaiv Oblast, however, denied his petition. The court determined that there was no significant deterioration in the diagnosis established for Hunko back in 2016. According to medical records, no evidence indicates any substantial changes in the ex-lawmaker's condition.

The court also noted that Hunko only requires outpatient monitoring and routine lab tests. Expert evaluations and physician testimony confirmed that such care can be feasibly provided even within the prison setting. Current legislation allows for the involvement of civilian doctors and the delivery of necessary medical treatment to inmates through state healthcare facilities. Hunko has already received remote consultations from specialists in Voznesensk, Mykolaiv, and Kyiv.

Background of Hunko's Case

The court emphasized that a serious illness constitutes a right to request release, not an automatic entitlement. The ruling may be appealed within seven days. Hunko's sentence became final on February 9, 2026, when the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) closed his case. The ex-lawmaker was convicted of incitement to bribery and fraud, receiving a seven-year prison term along with full asset forfeiture. Additionally, he was barred from being elected to public office and from holding any state service positions for three years.

Hunko and two accomplices were caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of 85,000 US dollars. At the time, he was attempting to sell land to the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, all while serving as the head of a parliamentary temporary investigative committee tasked with probing corruption at state enterprises under that very academy.

The court's refusal to grant Hunko's release on health grounds highlights the strict legal framework governing conditional release for convicts. A key takeaway is the court's affirmation that necessary medical care can be administered within correctional facilities, potentially setting a precedent for similar cases. This decision also underscores the legal system's active role in combating corruption, as cases of this nature often draw public scrutiny and interest in Ukraine's pursuit of justice.

In a similar vein, another lawmaker recently faced legal challenges when he missed a court appearance, citing a work trip abroad. This highlights the ongoing scrutiny of public officials and their accountability, particularly in light of current legal proceedings involving former lawmakers like Hunko.