The hearing of the Pechersk District Court regarding the deadlines for reviewing the case materials of businessman Serhii Tarasov did not take place

The criminal proceedings against agrarian entrepreneur and businessman Serhii Tarasov and employees of the I&U Group agroholding have remained at the pre-trial investigation stage for more than two years; however, the prosecution has still not referred the case to court.

The defense maintains that the prosecution is deliberately delaying the criminal proceedings due to the lack of convincing evidence.

The court hearing in criminal case No. 757/66207/25-k, scheduled for January 2, did not take place. The Pechersk District Court of Kyiv was to consider a motion filed by an investigator of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine seeking to set deadlines for the defense to review the pre-trial investigation materials.

The reasons for the postponement of the hearing were not officially disclosed.

The defense stated that it considers the motion to be legally unfounded, as an identical issue has already been scheduled for consideration on January 20. The lawyers argue that filing two motions may indicate an attempt to create parallel proceedings.

"The motive behind submitting two motions is not only to secure a favorable judge, but also to unlawfully shorten the time limits for reviewing the case materials. One motion seeks to impose a 40-day limit, the other a 10-day limit, without a decision having been issued on the first. This is a clear violation of the right to defense," the lawyer said.

The defense also reports pressure from the prosecution and insists on full access to the case materials. The date of the next court hearing is currently unknown.