How Did the Week Go at the High Council of Justice? April 28 – May 2, 2025
Bribes, violations of recusal rules, and shielding drunk drivers — which judges did the High Council of Justice (HCJ) review this week (April 28 – May 2, 2025), and what decisions were made?
Positive decisions:
- Ihor Ratushniak — judge of the Tyvriv District Court in Vinnytsia Oblast.
Referred for dismissal by the Third Disciplinary Chamber.
Judge’s background: The High Anti-Corruption Court found Ratushniak guilty of accepting a bribe of 120,000 UAH and sentenced him to 7 years in prison. The judge is currently appealing the verdict and claims the case was fabricated. The complaint was filed by colleagues from Automaidan, based on the bribe.
This week, a second disciplinary case was opened against Ratushniak for failing to recuse himself in cases where the defence attorney was his own legal representative, Viacheslav Kohutnytskyi.
Negative decisions:
- Svitlana Smyk — judge of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv.
Almost granted honourable retirement.
Judge’s background: Smyk has a history of systematically shielding drunk drivers from responsibility, including MP Kyrylo Nesterenko from the “Servant of the People” party, and judge Kostiantyn Babenko, who fled from police while intoxicated. She is believed to be connected to Oleh Tatarov, under whose supervision she defended her PhD in 2018. Smyk also closed a case regarding President Zelenskyy’s late declaration of 2.5 million UAH from bond sales. Additionally, she repeatedly obstructed journalists and tried to block public access to high-profile court hearings.
In November 2024, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) filed a high-priority complaint against Smyk with the HCJ. Realising that dismissal was likely, she submitted a request for honourable retirement. During the April 29 meeting, HCJ member Oksana Kvasha proposed suspending the review of Smyk’s retirement until the SBI complaint is resolved. However, the proposal did not gain unanimous support. As a result, on May 6, the HCJ will reconsider the retirement request. We hope they will not grant lifetime benefits before the complaint is fully reviewed.
- Serhii Stupak — judge of the Dzerzhynsk District Court in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Not dismissed, despite a dismissal recommendation by the HQCJ.
Judge’s background: In 2018, the judge failed to declare a Toyota RAV4 worth over 1 million UAH that was acquired by his wife (also a judge). He also used third-party property free of charge. In addition, he has six enforcement proceedings related to unpaid child support, violating his legal obligation to support his children. Lastly, Stupak dismissed drunk driving cases on the grounds of expired statute of limitations. For these reasons, the HQCJ recommended his dismissal — yet the HCJ rejected the proposal.
As we can see, the HCJ’s most recent decisions were negative. It is unacceptable that judges with such reputations remain in office. We hope that next week’s decisions will show greater integrity, including suspending the review of Svitlana Smyk’s honourable retirement.
