The head of the High Anti-Corruption Court withdrew from hearing the case of former prosecutor Zhuchenko.

The head of the High Anti-Corruption Court announced self-recusal in the case of Oleg Zhuchenko

The head of the High Anti-Corruption Court, Vera Mykhailenko, announced self-recusal in the case of former prosecutor of Odessa region Oleg Zhuchenko. The first hearing in this case was scheduled for September 10, but Mykhailenko announced self-recusal one day before.

Mykhailenko explained her decision by saying that she was considering complaints regarding the non-return of seized property in the framework of another case.

Zhuchenko himself and his defense team objected to Mykhailenko's self-recusal, claiming that she is objective in her decisions. The SAP prosecutor did not object to the recusal request.

The High Anti-Corruption Court granted Mykhailenko's request and was supposed to transfer the case to the department for the functioning of the automated system and electronic court. However, this has not happened yet.

New accusations against Zhuchenko

It is worth reminding that NABU accused Zhuchenko of receiving apartments from a construction company in exchange for the right to build on land plots transferred to prosecution employees.

Later, new accusations emerged that Zhuchenko allegedly received a flat "as an undue advantage". However, this apartment was official and its acquisition was approved by the residential committee of the prosecutor's office.

Zhuchenko himself has always denied his guilt and linked the criminal prosecution to the conflict between him and Mikheil Saakashvili.