Kyiv Court of Appeal Upholds Detention of National Anti-Corruption Bureau Detective Ruslan Magamedrasulov, Sparking Political Debate
The Kyiv Court of Appeal has decided to keep the detention of Ruslan Magamedrasulov, a detective from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), in custody, a move that surprised his legal team and stirred widespread public discourse.
The decision to deny the appeal and prolong remand came after his defenders requested the court to cancel the Pechersk district court’s ruling, which had previously imposed a milder preventive measure, such as house arrest or a travel ban.
Instead, the appellate court opted for continued detention, a choice that defense lawyers described as unjust and politically motivated.
They argued that the charges against Magamedrasulov appear to be a form of political persecution related to his activities within NABU.
Officially, while security services have publicly accused him of treason and dealings with Russia, the formal legal documents only mention preparation for aiding and abetting.
The ruling raises questions about the transparency of the legal process and the potential influence of politics on criminal proceedings in Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts.