The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine has eased the preventive measure for Member of Parliament Robert Horvat, reducing his bail from UAH 26.84 million to UAH 22.57 million. The politician and four co-defendants stand accused of illicitly acquiring state-owned land in Zakarpattia Oblast, causing financial damages estimated at nearly UAH 127 million.
The decision follows a petition filed by Horvat’s defense team requesting a significant reduction in the financial burden. However, the judicial panel only partially granted the defense’s request.
«Partially satisfy the defense attorney’s motion to change the preventive measure against the accused. Modify the preventive measure in the form of bail by reducing its amount from UAH 26,840,000 to UAH 22,574,000,» the court ruling states.
An investigation led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office revealed that between 2016 and 2019, the MP organized a scheme to siphon off land from the state enterprise «Leanka».
Law enforcement authorities report that Horvat leveraged his political influence over officials at the regional State Geocadastre in Zakarpattia. Under the arrangement, 323 hectares of valuable agricultural land were split into hundreds of smaller plots, re-registered under front individuals, and subsequently transferred to commercial entities under the MP’s control.
The criminal case was officially sent to trial following the completion of pre-trial investigations. The court is evaluating evidence against the participants in the scheme, which includes the MP, a former head of the regional State Geocadastre, and other key accomplices.
If convicted under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation or embezzlement of property through abuse of office on an especially large scale), Horvat faces up to 12 years in prison along with the forfeiture of assets.