Three years of restricted freedom: why the Supreme Court did not reduce Ostap Stupka’s sentence
17 February 15:17
The Supreme Court of Ukraine refused to review the sentence of Ostap Stupka, who was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom with deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for eight years.
The court concluded that the decision of the court of first instance and the ruling of the court of appeal were duly substantiated and comply with the requirements of the Criminal Procedure Code. The ruling of the Supreme Court is final and cannot be appealed. This was reported by Glavkom with reference to the court register, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
What the defense sought
The actor’s defense requested a change in the type of punishment — replacing the restriction of liberty with a fine of 170,000 hryvnia. The lawyers referred to:
- full admission of guilt;
- cooperation with the investigation;
- reconciliation with the victims;
- early compensation for damages;
- statements from colleagues regarding Stupka’s role in the development of theater and cinema.
The defense also argued that the previous lawyer had chosen the wrong tactics, which left the defendant without proper defense at the appeal stage.
Why the court refused
The Supreme Court rejected these arguments, noting that:
- the fine would not be commensurate with the severity of the offense;
- the court of appeal was not obliged to verify on its own initiative the allegations of possible pressure on the defendant;
- no procedural violations that could serve as grounds for reviewing the verdict were found.
At the same time, the victim and his mother informed the court that they had no claims against the convicted person, but this did not affect the decision.
What is known about the case
In April 2023, Ostap Stupka, son of Bohdan Stupka, caused a traffic accident in Kyiv while intoxicated. A Drager breathalyzer recorded a blood alcohol level of 1.62.
The court of first instance found him guilty of driving while intoxicated, and the appeals court upheld the verdict.
The term of punishment will be counted from the day Stupka arrives at the correctional center. Legally, the case is closed: there are no further instances to appeal the decision.
