Anti-corruption activist Shabunin released from pretrial detention
The Pechersk District Court in Kyiv has ruled to release Vitalii Shabunin, the head of Anti-corruption Action Centre (AntAC), from pretrial detention on own recognizance, Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported on July 15.
Authorities have charged Shabunin with avoiding mandatory military service during wartime. The prosecution alleges that while formally serving in the Ukrainian military, the activist spent much of his time working at the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) without proper justification.
According to a statement from AntAC, the court granted the prosecution’s request for a release on own recognizance (ROR) for Shabunin. His defense will appeal the ruling.
Under the ruling, until Aug. 20, Shabunin is required to:
- Appear when summoned by a judge, investigator, or prosecutor;
- Remain at his place of work except when on job-related assignments;
- Avoid communication with employees of the NACP, including his former supervisor there;
- Refrain from visiting the NACP building
- Surrender his passport.
AntAC noted that the initial mandate for Shabunin to wear an electronic tracking bracelet was dropped “last minute.”
On July 11, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) announced it had conducted searches at Shabunin’s residence and charged him with draft evasion and fraud. According to the bureau, Shabunin “systematically avoided military service” while receiving drawing a military salary.
AntAC dismissed the accusations as “absurd” and called the searches illegal. The organization’s chief counsel and Shabunin’s attorney, Olena Shcherban, told NV that investigators carried out the search without a valid court order and in the absence of legal counsel.
The SBI alleges that Shabunin’s commanding officer repeatedly sent him on work assignments to the NACP “without proper justification” and that Shabunin allegedly did not even visit the agency, choosing instead to spend his time at his own discretion. During the court hearing, the defense submitted letters from former NACP head Oleksandr Novikov that confirm he had requested Shabunin’s assignment. Zheleznyak added that the SBI did not question NACP leadership on the matter.
“For some reason, investigators did not ask Vitalii what he was doing at the NACP,” AntAC’s statement said.
“All of this is a matter of public record. It is not difficult to find information showing that Shabunin was involved in pushing for mandatory asset declarations for government officials, combating corruption in defense procurement, and several other tasks.”
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