High Anti-Corruption Court Judge Reports MP's Physical Resistance to Judicial Council

Disruption at Anti-Corruption Court Hearing

According to Главком: Judge Vitaliy Dubas of Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has formally reported an incident to the High Council of Justice and the Prosecutor General. The report concerns physical resistance and verbal abuse directed at judges by MP Kostiantyn Bondarev from the 'Batkivshchyna' party. The disruption occurred during a January 19, 2026, hearing on a motion by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) to seize assets belonging to MP Yuliia Tymoshenko and her husband in a case of alleged illicit enrichment. This case is part of Ukraine's ongoing, high-stakes efforts to combat corruption at the highest levels.

The hearing was interrupted when a group of lawmakers refused to leave the courtroom, forcing the judge to call a recess and summon additional court security. The deputies actively resisted officers of the Court Security Service, pushing them back as they attempted to restore order in the chamber.

Judge's Response and Aftermath

In response to the chaos, Judge Dubas ordered the proceedings to be moved to a different courtroom. All events were captured on the court's official video recording. The High Anti-Corruption Court ultimately partially granted the motion from a National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) detective to seize Yuliia Tymoshenko's assets.

“This is a kangaroo court! And you are an accomplice to a crime! Do you have a conscience or not?! You will be put on trial yourselves!”

Kostiantyn Bondarev

This outburst reflects the highly charged atmosphere that surrounded the case. The incident has sparked significant public concern and debate about the integrity of judicial proceedings under political pressure.

The courtroom clash underscores the tense and often fraught relationship between political activity and the judicial system in Ukraine. Such episodes risk undermining public confidence in the fairness of court rulings and the credibility of anti-corruption institutions. It is crucial that these investigations and trials, which are vital for establishing the rule of law, are allowed to proceed without obstruction.