Ukraine’s Tainted Judges Get a Lending Hand from Law Enforcement to Stay in Office
The Ukrainian government has been accused of attempting to disrupt the country’s European aspirations by pressuring the High Qualification Commission and blocking judicial reform. The commission, responsible for vetting judges, has come under scrutiny for allegedly failing to implement court rulings on vetting procedures.
One judge, Oksana Tsarevych, was fired in 2016 for violating her oath by unlawfully stripping protesters of driver’s licenses during the 2013-2014 EuroMaidan Revolution. However, she was acquitted in 2020 and reinstated as a judge of the Pechersk Court in 2021.
Tsarevych is now accusing the commission of failing to implement a court ruling on her vetting procedure. She filed a lawsuit to make the commission resume the 2016 vetting procedure instead, which would give her a better chance of being successfully vetted.
State Investigation Bureau cases have been initiated against several members of the High Qualification Commission, including Omelyan and Volodymyr Luhansky, for allegedly giving false testimony or forging documents. Meanwhile, National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is investigating a case into Luhansky allegedly getting illegal bonuses based on an unaccredited diploma.
The Ukrainian authorities have been criticized for not taking adequate action against tainted judges and the High Qualification Commission’s failures in implementing court rulings on vetting procedures. The government has been accused of prioritizing its own interests over the country’s European aspirations and judicial reform.
Critics argue that the Ukrainian government should decide whether it wants to disrupt the country’s European aspirations by pressuring the commission and blocking judicial reform. They suggest that the government must prioritize building a capable state that can repel the Russian invasion, rather than perpetuating tainted justice.
The Kyiv Independent reported on this story, highlighting the ongoing issues with Ukraine’s judiciary and the attempts to hinder the High Qualification Commission’s work.