Seizure of property is one of the most common tools in the hands of the investigation. It is applied quickly, sometimes in a formulaic manner, and is canceled only when the defense makes an effort and presents clear facts to the court. For business, seizure is not just a “legal action”, but a blocking of operations, a disruption of logistics, or even a halt to operations.
Canceling an arrest is not a formality. It is a separate procedural work that requires the right tactics. Below is a step-by-step instruction based on real practice.
Step 1. Obtain and analyze the arrest warrant
Before preparing a motion to quash the arrest, it is necessary to obtain the full text of the court order imposing the arrest. This is a key document that determines the further defense strategy.
📌 Ухвалу необхідно отримати саме в тому суді, який наклав арешт. Інколи клієнти не мають її на руках, а сам зміст ухвали бачать лише в реєстрі — без повного тексту. Повний текст дозволяє зрозуміти:
- what property has been seized (with or without a description);
- who is responsible for its preservation;
- what risks did the investigator or prosecutor identify;
- whether the property has the characteristics of tangible evidence.
After receiving the ruling, the lawyer, together with the client, analyzes its content. Often, it is in the text of the ruling that one can find weaknesses: lack of specification, unfounded risks, or uncertainty about the connection between the property and the criminal offense.
Step 2. Collect evidence that confirms the lack of connection between the property and the offense
The next stage is to collect and submit to the court all materials confirming that the seized property:
- has no connection with the circumstances of the criminal proceedings;
- is not material evidence;
- does not belong to the suspect or accused.
Such evidence may include:
- ownership documents (purchase and sale agreements, acceptance and transfer certificates, registration documents);
- payment documents proving the legality of the origin of the property;
- technical documentation or expert opinions (for example, that the server or equipment does not contain traces of a crime and was not used in the commission of an offense);
- bank statements indicating the movement of funds without criminal content.
It is also important: The lawyer has the right to select explanations from persons who can confirm the absence of a connection between the property and the criminal offense.. These can be directors, accountants, contractors. Such explanations are attached to the application as additional evidence and often play a key role.
Step 3. Formulate the position as concisely and clearly as possible for the court
The investigating judge has limited time and handles dozens of cases every week. Therefore, the defense's position must be clear, logical, and — most importantly — understandable from the first reading.
In the petition, you should not quote articles of the CPC unnecessarily. It is better to briefly state:
- what exactly was arrested;
- why this property should not be seized (with reference to evidence);
- why there is excessive interference with the rights of the individual (for example, stopping production, blocking the only means of transportation, etc.).
📌 У підсумку — прохання скасувати арешт і, за потреби, виключити майно з переліку речових доказів.
Case law: what a successful cancellation of an arrest looks like
✅ Case 1: Arrest of IT company servers without any physical evidence
(Pechersk Court of Kyiv, case No. 757/6512/23-k)
The company rented servers that investigators seized “for research.” The lawyer proved that the data was stored in the cloud, and the servers themselves were typical equipment with no traces of a crime. The court overturned the arrest.
✅ Case 2: Arrest of third party accounts without status in proceedings
(Shevchenko Court of Kyiv, case No. 761/16241/22-k)
The individual entrepreneur, who was not involved in the case at all, saw the seizure on his bank accounts. The lawyer provided a bank statement and an explanation that the accounts were not related to any business transactions of the suspects. The seizure was canceled.
✅ Case 3: Seizure of a relative's car without evidence of connection to the events
(Holosiivskyi District Court of Kyiv, case No. 752/21205/23-k)
The prosecutor indicated that the car could have been used by the suspect. The defense provided documents that only the father, who lives in another city, used the vehicle. The court noted that the suspicion was based on assumptions and canceled the arrest.
Typical mistakes made by property owners when appealing an arrest
🔻 Власник майна вказав у клопотанні лише загальні фрази: “майно потрібне для бізнесу”, без підтверджуючих документів.
🔻 Власник майна не подав докази на підтвердження права власності — суд не міг ідентифікувати, що заявник дійсно має стосунок до арештованого майна.
🔻 Власник майна не спростував ризики, на які послався прокурор — наприклад, що майно буде відчужене або втратить доказову цінність.
🔻 Клопотання подано до суду не за територіальною підсудністю, або без належної структури — це призвело до повернення клопотання без розгляду.
Lawyer's recommendations
✔️ Завжди отримуйте повний текст ухвали. Не варто будувати позицію на припущеннях чи фрагментах із реєстру судових рішень.
✔️ Збирайте не лише документи, а й письмові пояснення осіб, які можуть підтвердити обставини, вигідні захисту.
✔️ Готуйте клопотання так, ніби суд читатиме його 2 хвилини. Суть має бути очевидною одразу: що сталося, чому арешт — незаконний, чому майно — не речовий доказ.
Canceling the arrest is not about a beautiful legal formula, but about the content. If the defense clearly shows: “this property has no relation to the case” — the court will say: “Yes, the arrest is excessive here.” But if the owner files a petition without evidence and logic — the arrest will remain.
A properly formulated position and the professional work of a lawyer are the only real way to regain control of your property.
📩 Need help preparing a petition or checking prospects? Contact us - the Bargen team has experience in lifting property seizures at various stages of the proceedings.
