The Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court has upheld the conviction of Oleh Halchenko-Avilov, former head of a department at the Office of the Prosecutor General, and his accomplice Ihor Osypovych. The defendants were found guilty of attempting to bribe prosecutors within the prosecution service and have been sentenced to real prison terms along with asset confiscation.
On August 21, the panel of appellate judges concluded its review of the defense’s appeals against the original court verdict delivered on January 3, 2025. Dismissing the appeals in full, the court confirmed the legal validity of the lower court’s ruling, which took immediate effect upon its announcement.
The investigation established that the former senior prosecutor acted in pre-arranged conspiracy with his accomplice, facilitating the provision of illicit benefits to public officials. Under relevant provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding aiding in providing an unlawful benefit, Halchenko-Avilov was handed the following penalties:
6 years and 6 months of imprisonment;
A 3-year ban on holding public office or serving in law enforcement;
Confiscation of $60,100 USD;
Stripping of his special rank of Senior Counselor of Justice.
The second defendant, Ihor Osypovych, was convicted of instigating the provision of an unlawful benefit by prior agreement among a group of persons under the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The court sentenced Osypovych to 6 years of imprisonment and ordered the confiscation of half of his property.
“Following the review, the panel of judges left the defense’s appeals without satisfaction and the verdict unchanged,” confirmed the official statement from the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court.
The case forms part of broader anti-corruption efforts targeting systemic misconduct within central prosecution bodies.
While the appellate decision has entered into force and the convicts face immediate enforcement of their terms, the defense retains the right to file a final appeal with the Cassation Criminal Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine.