VAKS appeal forces Fediyniak lawyer to serve 4.5 years in prison instead of fine

Case review with radical change in punishment

The appellate panel of the Higher Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) upheld the appeals of the parties in the criminal proceedings against lawyer Ruslan Fediyniak. The court issued a new verdict, fully overturning the previous decision, which had imposed only a fine on the defendant.

Terms of the new verdict

Under the new ruling, Fediyniak was found guilty of abuse of influence and fraud. He was sentenced to 4.5 years of imprisonment. Additionally, the court ordered him to pay a fine of 51,000 hryvnia and confiscated all his property.

In addition to imprisonment, the lawyer was deprived of the right to engage in legal practice for three years.

Background of court decisions

Previously, in July, VAKS judge Timur Khamzin issued a verdict in which he acquitted Fediyniak of the fraud charges. At that time, the court found him guilty only of abuse of influence and imposed a fine of 93,500 hryvnia.

Circumstances of the bribery case

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) previously exposed lawyer Fediyniak for inciting the offering of a bribe to a judge of the Kalush District Court.

According to the prosecution, for 1,500 US dollars, the lawyer promised the client to resolve the issue of closing a criminal case for driving a vehicle while intoxicated. Meanwhile, as established, he did not actually intend to pass these funds to the judge, and he disposed of them at his own discretion.