«Not guilty». Mykolaiv court starts hearing in case of former head of the forensic expert commission Beliakova

Mykolaiv court begins the trial of former MSEC head Vira Belyakova. Photo: NikVesti

On Friday, 19 September, the Central District Court of Mykolaiv held a preparatory hearing in the case of Vira Beliakova, the former acting chief physician of the Medical and Social Expert Commission of Mykolaiv region.

This was reported by the correspondent of NikVesti.

Investigators suspect Vira Beliakova of obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces and other military formations, which is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 5 to 8 years (Article 114-1).

The case is being heard by judge Volodymyr Aleinikov. During the hearing, Beliakova's lawyer, Viacheslav Hrybonos, drew the judge's attention to the fact that he had filed a motion to change the measure of restraint and asked him to leave it unchanged. However, Volodymyr Aleinikov replied that the motion was not filed during the court hearing, and therefore, in fact, «does not exist in nature».

Vira Beliakova is defended by lawyer Viacheslav Gribonos. Photo: NikVesti.

Judge of the Central District Court Volodymyr Aleinikov is hearing the case. Photo: NikVesti

In addition, Volodymyr Aleinikov asked Beliakova herself whether she considered herself guilty, to which she replied that she did not admit guilt in this criminal proceeding.

The parties then agreed on the date of the next hearing, which the judge approved to be held in mid-December.

The case of Vira Beliakova

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In October 2024, it became known about the searches of the head of the MSEC in Mykolaiv region. Then, according to the security forces, more than $450,000 was found on the person of the institution's acting chief physician, Vira Beliakova. In addition, her son was found to have a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation. Later, NikVesti found out that law enforcement officers had not yet detained anyone or served anyone with a suspicion in the proceedings over the searches of the head of the Mykolaiv MSEC. The prosecutor's office only asked the court to seize the seized property in Beliakova's home.

At the same time, the Prosecutor General's Office told the journalists of «Slovo i Dilo» that the searches at Beliakova's place were not conducted as part of a corruption crime, but rather on the fact of obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

It should be noted that in March 2024, Mykolaiv law enforcement officers exposed a scheme to sell fake certificates of fitness for military service for health reasons. Svitlana Biletska, deputy to Vira Beliakova at the Mykolaiv Regional Medical and Social Expertise Centre (MSEC), was among the five detainees.

In May 2025, the Central District Court placed the official under arrest.

Following the situation with searches and abuses by officials of various state bodies of people with disabilities, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council and signed a law to liquidate medical and social expert commissions.