The case of the Carpathian official Saiv was postponed again due to the “illness” of the accused
On April 23, the Dnipro District Court of Kyiv was scheduled to hold another hearing in the case of Serhiy Saiv, the former head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast’s DMS, who was charged with obstructing the legitimate journalistic activities of the Stop Corruption TV media. However, the case was postponed again due to the illness of the accused.
It is worth noting that the preliminary hearing, which was planned for March 10, also did not take place due to the fact that the defender informed about Saiva’s illness and filed a motion to postpone the hearing.
Representatives of “Stop Corruption TV” suggest that Serhiy Saiv’s constant illnesses, which coincide with the dates of court hearings, may indicate the intention of the defense to delay the process. After all, by July of this year, the term of bringing him to criminal responsibility will end.
On July 18, 2024, in the “Rulka” restaurant in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, according to the investigation, Saiv attacked the film crew of “Stop Corruption TV” when the journalists were performing their duties.
The journalists intended to ask the official questions about his property and possible business connections. However, upon noticing the camera, Saiv first tried to avoid communication, and later resorted to aggression, hitting the operator and damaging his equipment.
On August 30, 2024, he was charged with suspicion under Part 1 of Article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This article provides punishment for obstructing journalistic activities.
In November 2024, the Supreme Court granted the request of the prosecutor’s office and decided to transfer the case from the Bogorodchansky Court to Kyiv (Dnipro District Court) due to the alleged bias of the local court.
It seems that the defense is deliberately delaying the process, citing Serhiy Saiv’s illnesses. The next meeting will be held on May 13, 2026, and Stop Corruption will continue to monitor the court process.
