Ukraine indicts former Constitutional Court Chair

Former Constitutional Court Chairman Oleksandr
Tupytskiy was indicted on two counts, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced
on May 25. According to the PGO’s announcement posted on its website, Tupytskiy
was charged with violating Part 2 of Article 384 (for bribing a witness) and
Article 386 (perjury) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The charges relate to
Tupytskiy’s alleged interference in the criminal proceedings over “the illegal
seizure of property assets of CJSC “Zuyiv Energy and Mechanical Plant”.

Tupytskiy had been removed from his post as chairman
on March 28 by presidential decree. The Verkhovna Rada had declared him and
fellow Constitutional Court judge Oleksandr Kasminin threats to the security of
Ukraine.

James Hydzik: The Zelensky administration needs to ensure that Tupytskiy is kept out
of the Constitutional Court now that he’s had allegations of treason laid
against him. This set of indictments should both keep him busy and also prevent
him from leaving the country, as Kasminin has.