---
title: "Bail Instead of Arrest: How Supreme Court Judge Prokopenko Avoided Prison in the 'Marked' Dollars Case"
description: "HACC set bail of 900,000 hryvnias for retired Supreme Court Judge Prokopenko in a corruption case. 🏛️ The defendant avoided house arrest but must surrender his foreign passport. The investigation concerns a scheme involving 'marked' dollars of the former Supreme Court head Knyazev. ⚖️💸"
date: 2026-05-29T14:29:19.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/bail-instead-of-arrest-how-supreme-court-judge-prokopenko-avoided-prison-in-the-marked-dollars-case
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Bail Instead of Arrest: How Supreme Court Judge Prokopenko Avoided Prison in the 'Marked' Dollars Case

![Retired Judge Alexander Prokopenko at a hearing in the High Anti-Corruption Court](https://xab.info/media/2026/05/29/zaklad-sudye-vs-prokopenko-del-o-mechenyh-dollarah/sudebnyj-process-vaks-prokopenko.webp)

The Ukrainian judicial system has faced a new wave of a high-profile corruption scandal. The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has issued a ruling on the case of retired Supreme Court Judge Alexander Prokopenko. The defendant avoided house arrest but was required to pay bail in the amount of 900,000 hryvnias and surrender his foreign passport.

### Relaxation of Pre-trial Measures

The procedural decision came as a surprise to the prosecution. Prosecutors insisted on strict conditions: they demanded house arrest and bail of 10.5 million hryvnias. However, the court showed leniency, reducing the financial liability by more than tenfold. For comparison, Prokopenko's colleague in this same case, Judge Zhanna Yelenina, has already paid bail of 3 million hryvnias.

Despite the refusal to use an electronic ankle monitor, the defendant was subject to strict restrictions. He is prohibited from communicating with witnesses, changing his place of residence without notification, or leaving the country. Any violation of these conditions may lead to stricter pre-trial measures.

### The Case of 'Marked' Banknotes

At the center of the investigation is a large-scale scheme to bribe judges that has been ongoing for three years. According to the investigation, businessman Konstantin Zhevago gave a bribe of $2.7 million to the former head of the Supreme Court, Vsevolod Knyazev, to resolve issues with the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant. Knyazev, in turn, allegedly shared the money with his colleagues.

It was during the search of Prokopenko's residence that law enforcement officers found 2,300 marked US dollars. The judge's defense argues that the money came into his possession accidentally, possibly through currency exchange, and denies the fact of receiving a bribe. However, the prosecution insists that Prokopenko and other judges voted in the interests of Zhevago specifically for remuneration.

### Systemic Crisis

The Prokopenko case is just part of a massive investigation by the NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) and the SAP (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office). Both active and retired judges have come under fire. Investigative actions have affected not only offices and homes but also the personal vehicles of the defendants. The case materials mention the names of Zhanna Yelenina, Irina Grigoryeva, and Igor Zhelezny, who are also accused of participating in the scheme.

This case has become the second high-profile case of incitement to bribery investigated by NABU. Previously, the agency detained a man who attempted to bribe a judge in Odesa under the guise of a representative of the Armed Forces of Ukraine command, planning to appropriate the money for himself. Now, public attention is focused on how the case of corruption in the country's highest judicial body will develop.