Ivan Kolomoisky has been re-arrested: the detention term extended by another two months
The Kyiv Pechersk District Court on Thursday decided to extend the preventive measure of detention for Ihor Kolomoisky in a case related to the ordered murder of ombudsperson lawyer Serhii Karpenko. The new detention period is set until July 4, 2025, meaning the businessman and philanthropist will remain in pre-trial detention for over two more months. According to “Suspilne” from the courtroom, during the hearing, the prosecutor insisted on prolonging the detention by another 60 days, citing the complexity and multifaceted nature of the criminal case. He also emphasized that, as of now, the amount of bail that could be set with the agreement of the parties has not been established. The defendant’s lawyers and Ihor Kolomoisky himself advocated for denying this motion, arguing that his continued detention is unlawful and unjustified. Earlier, investigators and prosecutors submitted five voluminous volumes of documents to the case files, containing testimonies and expert opinions. The evidentiary base includes statements from over twenty witnesses and analytical reports supporting the investigation’s version of Kolomoisky’s involvement in the criminal offense. It should be noted that in May of this year, the Office of the Prosecutor General officially announced Ihor Kolomoisky’s suspicion of committing a particularly grave crime. According to investigators, the suspect, motivated by personal revenge, ordered the murder of a leader of a legal company. This was triggered by unresolved legal issues, including the failure to fulfill requirements for annulment and invalidation of decisions by the shareholders' meetings of an open joint-stock company located in Feodosiia, Crimea. The events took place in this resort city, which is temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. Additionally, it is noted that Ihor Kolomoisky has been under detention for several months due to other criminal cases. Since September 2023, he has been implicated in fraud, money laundering, and other illegal activities related to his business operations, which have gained significant public resonance. The court’s decision to extend the detention comes amid ongoing legal battles and court proceedings involving one of Ukraine’s wealthiest oligarchs. During the hearing, the prosecution emphasized the necessity of prolonging the preventive measure due to the high likelihood of pressure on witnesses and the risk of fleeing from justice. However, the defense argued that at this stage, there are no grounds to keep Kolomoisky in pre-trial detention without sufficient reasons. Overall, the case against Ihor Kolomoisky remains one of the most high-profile and complex in the Ukrainian judicial system in recent years, attracting widespread public and political discussion. Numerous legal processes are ongoing, significantly impacting the reputation of the businessman and his political standing with authorities. At the same time, the continued detention indicates the prosecution’s firm position regarding the investigation of this resonant case and their intention to present all circumstances and evidence confirming the defendant’s guilt to the court.