The former head of the Kiliya District State Administration announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer while in prison

Viktor Grekov, the convicted former head of the Kiliya District State Administration, claimed to have cancer, which, according to medical experts, requires treatment abroad. The court denied his request to be released from further serving his sentence on health grounds.

According to Bessarabia INFORM, Grekov learned of his cancer while in prison. According to medical records, as early as 2025, he was diagnosed with a stage-three tumor that had spread to neighboring organs and blood vessels. He was also diagnosed with anemia and hypertension.

On February 27, 2025, Grekov was taken to Hospital No. 19 of the State Penitentiary Service. From April 3 to 7, he was at the Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital, after which he returned to the surgical ward of Hospital No. 19. In total, he underwent two cycles of chemotherapy.

In April 2025, Grekov’s wife, who is acting as his attorney, filed a motion with the Halytskyi District Court of Lviv requesting that he be released from further serving his sentence due to his health condition.

According to her, treatment abroad is necessary due to the complexity of the illness. Ukrainian surgeons, as the defense noted, refused to operate on the patient.

The defense cited the conclusion of a medical commission, according to which Grekov’s condition is incompatible with imprisonment.

The court denied the motion. Among other things, the court took into account information from the prison administration stating that the convict was receiving the necessary treatment.

The ruling also noted that, at that time, Grekov had served less than one-third of his sentence. His sentence is scheduled to end on February 24, 2031.

The defense appealed this decision. During the proceedings, the defense submitted a forensic medical examination dated August 11, 2025. The experts suggested the possibility of stage IV of the disease, given its aggressive course, and noted that it may fall under the list of illnesses for which exemption from punishment is provided.

The defense attorney also stated that the family purchases the necessary medications and supplies at their own expense. According to her, administering chemotherapy is complicated by Grekov’s health condition.

The Lviv Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision.

Viktor Grekov was arrested in May 2017 for accepting a bribe of $2,500 along with an accomplice who was his subordinate. At the time, he had served as head of the Kiliya District State Administration for about two years.

The higher court sentenced Grekov and his accomplice to eight years in prison with confiscation of property.

The former head of the Kiliya District State Administration is currently serving his fourth year of his sentence.

Ірина Глухова