How did the week go at the High Council of Justice? June 23-27, 2025

The High Council of Justice (HCJ) has dismissed a judge accused of bribery and submitted three more low-integrity judges for dismissal. At the same time, we must remind everyone: without an independent disciplinary system, such decisions will remain the exception, not the rule.

Dismissed:

Serhii Burkhan — head of the Verkhnodniprovskyi Court in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Complaint submitted by: DEJURE Foundation

Burkhan was dismissed over suspicion of accepting a bribe in exchange for lifting a seizure on property within a criminal proceeding. According to investigators, the judge communicated informally with an intermediary named Beliashyevych — it was during their recorded conversation that agreement on the illicit payment was confirmed.

Despite this, Burkhan’s lawyer claimed the intermediary was just a fisherman and that it’s unclear why he mentioned Burkhan. The judge had held the position of court chair since 2007, although the law limits such terms to three consecutive years.

Notably, for a long time, Burkhan’s dismissal was blocked within the Second Disciplinary Chamber by HCJ members Salikhov and Burlakov.

Submitted for dismissal:

Oleksandr Savin — judge of the Pivdennoukrainskyi District Court in Mykolaiv Oblast

Complaint submitted by: DEJURE Foundation

In April 2024, Savin was stopped by police for signs of alcohol intoxication. He agreed to a sobriety test but only at a “preferred” clinic. He then disappeared, driving into the yard of his house. Later, a court found him guilty, fined him UAH 17,000, and revoked his license for one year.

Savin denies evading the police, claims a personal conflict with officers, and plans to appeal the verdict, calling the case a smear campaign. However, this isn’t his first violation:

• 2017 — reprimanded for gross violations of procedural law

• 2024 — found guilty of violating financial reporting rules

• Ongoing — another case over conflict of interest

These systemic violations left the HCJ no choice but to submit him for dismissal.

Viktor Polovynka — judge of Svatove District Court, Luhansk Oblast (seconded to Rokytne District Court, Kyiv Oblast)

Since May 2022, Polovynka has been assigned to work at Rokytne Court, but never once showed up. He hasn’t received a judicial salary since 2022. He claimed he couldn’t leave the temporarily occupied territory and needed to care for relatives, though he provided no evidence.

More importantly, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed that he holds a Russian taxpayer identification number. The Second Disciplinary Chamber submitted him for dismissal, unanimously supporting the motion of disciplinary inspector Ihor Tron.

Hennadii Moliboha — former head of Druzhkivka City Court, Donetsk Oblast

Decision: submitted for dismissal

The High Anti-Corruption Court has already found Moliboha guilty and sentenced him to 7 years and 6 months in prison with property confiscation. Prosecutor Yahupets, who offered and delivered the bribe for helping drunk drivers avoid justice, was sentenced to 4.5 years. The case is currently under appeal at the HAC Court of Appeal.

This isn’t Moliboha’s only integrity issue. Another bribery case against him is pending in the same court. He also used Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne vehicles without declaring them between 2013–2017, knowingly filing false asset declarations. The First Disciplinary Chamber has now submitted him for dismissal.

In the final week of June, the High Council of Justice showed that the updated body can purge the judiciary of corrupt judges. In particular, thanks to complaints submitted by DEJURE’s legal team, the HCJ took action against judges with a history of violations and impunity.

However, the Council continues to delay the appointment of a new member to the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) — despite the fact that candidates have already been selected by the international expert-led Selection Commission. At the same time, there remains a serious risk of regression if MPs push through draft law No. 13137, proposed by “Servant of the People” MPs. If adopted, this bill would make it nearly impossible to dismiss judges for bribery, drunk driving, false declarations, or collaboration with Russian authorities.