A high-profile case is ongoing in Kyiv Region involving former head of Brovary District State Administration, Volodymyr Maibozhenko, who found himself at the center of a scandal due to a road traffic accident while under the influence of alcohol
After the former official was involved in a traffic accident at a city intersection on April 26, 2024, the public and human rights organizations actively discussed issues of punishment for such violations, especially considering the severity of the consequences. According to official information released by the Office of the Prosecutor General on social media, the prosecutor’s office is persistently seeking to review the previous court decision issued in December 2024. At that time, the Brovary City District Court approved a plea agreement between the defendant and the victims, leaving unchanged the punishment for Maibozhenko — a fine of 34,000 hryvnias and a three-year ban on driving vehicles. However, the prosecution argued that this decision was insufficiently strict and did not correspond to the gravity of the offense committed, and therefore filed an appeal with the Kyiv Appellate Court. What prompted this appeal? On April 26, 2024, Maibozhenko, driving a car, violated a traffic signal by crossing a pedestrian crosswalk, then at high speed drove onto the curb, where he hit four pedestrians, including a child. The victims were hospitalized — one sustained injuries of varying severity — and the victims, mostly pedestrians, demanded an objective investigation and fair punishment of the offender. Blood analysis revealed that the driver’s blood alcohol content was 2.31 promilles, indicating severe intoxication. According to prosecutors, this case is particularly resonant because its resolution affects public trust in the justice system. They remind that under current legislation, individuals involved in traffic accidents while intoxicated must be punished according to the articles of the Criminal Code. Given the seriousness of the incident, the plea agreement that reduces penalties for serious crimes is deemed unacceptable and contrary to public interest. The prosecutors stated that participating in agreements that lessen punishment for grave offenses is inadmissible. The Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office emphasizes that it has filed an appeal and intends to challenge the current court decision precisely because it considers it too lenient and unjust. They point out that the law provides for harsher measures for such violations and that a plea agreement does not meet the requirements of criminal legislation when the incident has severe consequences involving alcohol. The prosecutors highlight that their main goal is to ensure justice and demonstrate to the public that offenders, especially those committing crimes under the influence of alcohol, will not evade appropriate punishment. They assure that a new court review will determine the true extent of the punishment, reflecting the severity of the crime and not being a lenient resolution via plea bargain, which conflicts with societal interests. Overall, this case has become one of the most high-profile in the region, sparking public debates regarding accountability and justice in the application of criminal law to high-ranking officials and private drivers. At the same time, it underscores the importance of legal compliance, individual responsibility for one’s actions, and the necessity of improving the justice system concerning road accidents caused by drunk driving. The verdict in this case will be reconsidered, and society is eagerly awaiting the final court decision, which should reflect justice and protect public interests.