Medvedchuk house arrest extended to September

Pechersk District Court of Kyiv judge Serhiy Vovk
extended the house arrest for pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk until September
7. Medvedchuk has been under house arrest since May 13, pravda.com.ua reported
on July 9. He is considered a flight risk while under suspicion, with fellow
Opposition Bloc member Taras Kozak, who went to Belarus for medical treatment
in May, on treason charges.

The July 8 hearing regarding the extension of
Medvedchuk’s house arrest took 13 hours. Vovk adjourned the hearing last night,
ostensibly to weigh the merits of the arguments, and gave his ruling on the
morning of July 9. Medvedchuk’s lawyers have stated that they would appeal the
decision. Medvedchuk argued that house arrest prevents him from carrying out
his duties as a legislator and political figure.

James Hydzik: The Kremlin
has already shown a lack of vigor in defending Medvedchuk, and the U.S. has
pointed to other issues as being central to Ukraine’s fight against corruption.
Politically, then, Medvedchuk’s case will remain mostly an affair of domestic
importance. It is an important one, though, as Zelensky and company look to weaken
rival power bases, especially those with support in the south and east of the
country.

The fact that Russia has not vociferously defended
Medvedchuk also points to the fact that others are now preferred conduits of
its influence. The merits of the case will be judged by Vovk, but the
consequences will be judged by the voters Zelensky and Medvedchuk would court
in the next elections.