Ukraine NABU Apprehends Judge Who Evaded Corruption Sentence for 3 Years

Ukraine National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Office (SACP) announced on September 29, 2026, that they have located and apprehended former judge Andriy Leonov of the Babushkinsky District Court in Dnipro.

The case

Leonov was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to 11 years in prison for bribery. Instead of serving his sentence, he went into hiding and successfully evaded law enforcement for over three years. SACP stated: He spent more than 3 years hiding from the court and evading his criminal punishment.

His apprehension is a significant milestone in Ukraine judicial accountability efforts, which are closely monitored as part of EU accession requirements.