DEJURE Foundation filed a complaint against Serhiy Burlakov, a member of the HCJ. He is delaying the consideration of the disciplinary case against Vsevolod Knyazev

Today, on April 11, a complaint was lodged against Serhiy Burlakov, a member of the HCJ, accusing him of stalling the disciplinary proceedings concerning Vsevolod Knyazev.

Previously, in June 2023, our lawyer, Marta Bereza, filed a complaint against Vsevolod Knyazev for alleged bribery. Such grave misconduct normally warrants dismissal. However, Knyazev has continued to serve as a judge, earning a monthly salary of approximately UAH 200,000. The complaint was assigned to Burlakov in November, and a disciplinary case was initiated on December 20.

Legally, the consideration of such cases must be completed within 90 days from initiation. Moreover, the HCJ’s regulations require that a report and a proposed decision be prepared within 30 days of the case’s commencement. Additionally, the HCJ, by its regulations, has committed to establishing transparent and definitive criteria for prioritising complaints based on public interest.

However, the legally prescribed deadline has been exceeded by several weeks, indicating a deliberate delay in handling a case that has garnered significant public attention due to the controversial nature of the odious individual and related events. Furthermore, on January 31, Burlakov attempted to halt the proceedings without justifiable reasons. It has been observed that Burlakov sporadically issues requests related to this disciplinary case to various bodies but does so inconsistently and without transparent rationale.

Burlakov, who holds an active judgeship while seconded to the HCJ, is subject to the same standards as other judges, including potential disciplinary action for undue delays in processing complaints. His role at the HCJ demands genuine effort rather than mere semblance of action.