IN DEFENSE OF THE NOTARY SYSTEM

More than five years ago, criminal proceedings were initiated against our client—one of the private notaries in the Kyiv region. During that time, the case has changed jurisdictions several times and, accordingly, its geographic location (Kyiv – Vinnytsia – Kropyvnytskyi).

But what is most interesting is that the notice of suspicion—and now the indictment as well (alleging fraudulent acts, forgery of official documents, and abuse of a notary’s authority)— is based on the testimony of the drug-dependent complainant, a fact the latter explicitly notes in the interrogation transcripts, leading him to express uncertainty regarding his involvement in the notarial proceedings at all.

However, this did not in any way deter the investigation; it did, however, give the investigating judges pause for thought while exercising judicial oversight in deciding on the application of measures to secure the criminal proceedings against our Client.

Consequently, instead of being held in custody, our client returned to his family, and no seizure of property was ordered. As of today, no preventive measures are in place.

What lies ahead? Given that the indictment was served back in August and, as of October, a preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled, one can only conclude that this case lacks any procedural merit. To be continued.

Attorneys Constantine Globa and Olga Kukuyuk are handling the case.