Key facts
- Former justice minister Herman Halushchenko had his electronic monitoring bracelet removed by a Ukrainian court on Oct. 22.
- Halushchenko was charged in a probe into state nuclear energy monopoly Energoatom, Ukraine's largest corruption investigation during President Zelensky's tenure.
- He was released on bail of Hr 150 million ($3.4 million) in the summer after being detained on Feb. 15.
- Officials are seeking to seize the bail money, which could result in Halushchenko returning to custody.
- In a similar case, Andriy Yermak, former head of the President's Office, was allowed to remove his bracelet for medical reasons in September.
Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court on October 22 permitted former justice minister Herman Halushchenko to remove his electronic monitoring bracelet. Halushchenko, who was detained on February 15, was released on bail of 150 million hryvnia ($3.4 million) in the summer. He had been held in pretrial detention since February 17.
The court did not provide specific reasons for allowing the removal of the bracelet but extended other obligations for two months. These include reporting any change of residence, not leaving Kyiv without permission, avoiding contact with other suspects, and surrendering his foreign passports.
Halushchenko faces charges from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau as part of an investigation into Energoatom, the state nuclear energy monopoly. This case is considered the largest corruption investigation during President Zelensky's term. Halushchenko served as energy minister from 2021 to 2025 and was appointed justice minister in July 2025, before being dismissed in November amid the scandal.
Prosecutors are seeking to seize the 150 million hryvnia bail posted for Halushchenko. If the court approves this request, Halushchenko would be considered not to have paid bail and could be returned to custody. The funds could be transferred to Ukraine's Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). In a similar decision in September, the court allowed Andriy Yermak, former head of the President's Office, to remove his electronic monitoring bracelet for medical reasons.