Supreme Court Judge Declares Sanctions Against Poroshenko Illegal

Sanctions Imposed on Petro Poroshenko

According to 5 канал: In a striking legal opinion, Supreme Court Justice Mykhailo Smokovych has asserted that Presidential Decree No. 81/2025, which enacted personal sanctions against Ukraine's fifth President, Petro Poroshenko, should have been nullified due to breaches of the law. The judge argued that the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine (Derzhfinmonitoring) lacked the authority to evaluate Poroshenko's political activities, as its mandate is strictly confined to analyzing financial transactions. Despite this, on July 10, 2026, a majority of judges on the Administrative Cassation Court rejected Poroshenko's lawsuit.

Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 imposed personal sanctions on Petro Poroshenko, yet according to Smokovych, the underlying circumstances were documented by agencies that were not legally competent to assess such information.

“Without a lawful basis for submitting proposals, all subsequent decisions by authorities are stripped of legitimacy,” stated Mykhailo Smokovych.

Derzhfinmonitoring, led by Filip Pronin, sent a letter to the Ministry of Economy containing details from criminal proceedings, in which it assessed Poroshenko's state and political activities as both foreign minister and president. However, the Ministry of Economy transferred the points from this letter into a draft government resolution without conducting its own analysis. The Cabinet of Ministers then approved these proposals for the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) without evaluating the source's reliability or the substance of the allegations.

Legal Issues and Implications

The NSDC and the president made the final decision on sanctions based on materials that, legally, had no right to form such conclusions. According to the Laboratory of Legislative Initiatives, a report to the European Commission exposed political persecution through the sanctions against Poroshenko. Meanwhile, the majority of judges on the Administrative Cassation Court of the Supreme Court ruled to dismiss Poroshenko's lawsuit on July 10, 2026, despite a dissenting opinion from presiding judge Oles Radyshevska.

As a result, the situation surrounding the sanctions against Petro Poroshenko has raised numerous questions about the legality of Derzhfinmonitoring's actions and the overall sanctions procedure, potentially indicating political motives in the process. This case highlights ongoing concerns about the separation of powers and the rule of law in Ukraine.

The case regarding sanctions against Petro Poroshenko, which has sparked debates over the lawfulness of the decisions made, could have far-reaching consequences for Ukraine's political landscape. Crucially, the court's ruling has ignited discussions about the role of state bodies in shaping sanctions policy and the potential for political persecution that may affect democratic processes in the country. The situation requires further review and analysis to prevent future abuses.

The recent ruling by Justice Mykhailo Smokovych raises significant questions regarding the legal framework surrounding the sanctions imposed on Petro Poroshenko. This decision not only challenges the legitimacy of the actions taken by various governmental bodies but also highlights the critical need for a thorough examination of the processes involved in sanctioning political figures. For a deeper understanding of this complex legal landscape, you can explore more details in our related article on the court's findings regarding the sanctions.