The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has made a strict procedural decision regarding Serhiy Kuzminych, a People's Deputy of Ukraine of the IX convocation. On June 29, 2026, the preventive measure for the parliamentarian from the 'Servant of the People' faction was tightened to 24/7 house arrest with the mandatory wearing of an electronic bracelet. This was the result of a multi-year struggle by law enforcement agencies against the defendant's systematic failures to appear in court.
Four years of non-appearance and forced arrest
The criminal proceedings against Kuzminych have been at the court stage since September 2022. During this period, the prosecution recorded regular cancellations of hearings. The deputy justified his absence either by his state of health or by official business trips abroad. However, the court found the initial preventive measure—a bail of 49,000 UAH, imposed in May 2022—insufficient to ensure the defendant's proper conduct.
The chronology of missed hearings demonstrates a persistent trend of delaying the process. Kuzminych failed to appear for hearings on October 29, 2025, as well as on March 30, June 1, and June 22, 2026. The defense explained the last absence as a trip by the parliamentarian to the Kingdom of Spain. In order to prevent the expiration of the statute of limitations for criminal liability, which expires in January 2027, the HACC judge granted the motion for forced detention. On the morning of June 29, 2026, the deputy was taken to a temporary detention center, after which the court promptly reviewed the conditions of his detention.
Essence of the accusation: tenders for medical equipment
Pre-trial investigation bodies accuse Serhiy Kuzminych of committing a criminal offense provided for by Part 2 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of influence). According to the prosecution, in January 2022, the subject was caught receiving an undue benefit amounting to 558,000 UAH. This amount is equivalent to 30% of the total cost of the state contract for the procurement of medical equipment.
Case materials indicate that the specified amount was transferred in exchange for assisting a private company in winning a tender for the supply of an ultrasound diagnostic system (ultrasound) for the Zhytomyr Regional Hospital. The investigation also claims the existence of agreements on two future contracts for the supply of an MRI machine and laparoscopic equipment for a total amount of over 38 million UAH, where the size of the alleged reward was also to be 30%.
Legal consequences
During the court hearing, the defense insisted on the validity of the reasons for previous non-appearances, however, the court found the prosecution's arguments more well-founded. The deputy's freedom of movement is restricted for two months without the right to appeal the decision. According to Part 2 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, receiving an undue benefit for influencing the decision-making of a person authorized to perform state functions is punishable by a fine of up to 93,500 UAH or imprisonment for a term of 2 to 5 years.