**Ukraine’s Judicial Watchdog Criticizes Appointment of Judge with Ties to Russia**
The High Council of Justice in Ukraine has appointed Oleksandra Shulika as a judge in the Kirovohrad Oblast court, sparking criticism from the country’s main judicial watchdog.
Shulika was previously accused of visiting Crimea after its annexation by Russia and making multiple trips to the country between 2015 and 2019. She had been issued Russian citizenship and held a valid Russian passport.
“This is absolutely unacceptable,” said Mykhailo Zhernakov, executive director of the Dejure Foundation, which monitors Ukraine’s judiciary. He added that such appointments help “representatives of the judicial mafia remain in their positions” and allow sympathizers of Russia to take up vacant positions in the judicial system.
Ukraine has a constitutional ban on judges and other officials with foreign passports. The appointment highlights the continued presence of officials with ties to Russia in the Ukrainian government, despite some being fired.
**Judicial System Still Marred by Corruption**
The judiciary in Ukraine is still notoriously corrupt, according to watchdogs, with some judges obstructing justice and blocking reforms. Zhernakov questioned whether such a system would be acceptable to EU standards.
The High Council of Justice did not respond to requests for comment on the appointment.
**Previous Scandal Involving Judge with Russian Citizenship**
This is not the first scandal involving a judge with ties to Russia. Bohdan Lvov, a former Supreme Court deputy chairman, received Russian citizenship in 1999 and still had a valid Russian passport at the time of his firing in 2022. A court later reinstated him as a Supreme Court judge, only for an appellate court to reverse the decision.
**Global Reaction**
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described such acts of sabotage as “versions of the war that Russia has declared to the whole world, not just Ukraine.”