Photo: Getty Images
Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court has lifted the requirement for former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko to wear an electronic monitoring device.
The court announced the decision in a Facebook post without naming the former minister. However, sources told RBC-Ukraine that the case concerns Halushchenko.
On Thursday, October 22, the court partially granted a motion by prosecutors from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), extending Halushchenko’s procedural obligations for another two months.
He must continue to:
Appear whenever summoned by detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), SAPO prosecutors, an investigating judge or a court, as required at the relevant stage of the proceedings.
Remain within Kyiv and Kyiv region unless authorized to leave by NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors.
Notify NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors of any change of residence.
Refrain from communicating with specified individuals.
Surrender all foreign passports and other documents authorizing international travel to Ukraine’s State Migration Service, if he has not already done so.
However, the investigating judge did not extend the requirement for Halushchenko to wear an electronic monitoring device.
Halushchenko’s bail
In June, the full bail amount of UAH 150 million was paid on Halushchenko’s behalf, RBC-Ukraine reported. According to the investigative journalism project Schemes, two private companies contributed part of the money.
SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko later said prosecutors were seeking to have the UAH 150 million seized over suspicions that the funds may have originated from criminal activity.
If the court grants the motion, Halushchenko could be returned to pretrial detention, Klymenko said.
SAPO has also announced plans to scrutinize the origins of bail money in corruption cases more closely. Prosecutors intend to refer such funds to Ukraine’s State Financial Monitoring Service immediately, without first registering separate criminal proceedings.