How judge Panchenko survived on “rations” to buy property and why she sold an apartment for 100 hryvnias: what the candidate revealed in her interview for the High Council of Justice

The new selection process for the High Council of Justice (HCJ) under the President’s quota is ongoing. On June 4th, Natalia Panchenko, a judge of the Kyiv District Administrative Court, had an interview with the Ethics Council.

The first thing judge Panchenko did was request the Ethics Council not to broadcast the interview, citing a relative in the military as her reason. This request was denied.

Panchenko gave a convoluted answer regarding the funds for an expensive apartment, stating that the money came from all family members but did not specify any amounts. Moreover, in her previous interview for the High Qualifications Commission of Judges (HQCJ), she provided completely different information, claiming that her sister provided the money for the apartment, although her declared income was insufficient for such a purchase. The sister also “purchased” a second apartment despite having an income of just over 600,000 hryvnias from 1998 to 2012.

The candidate also uses apartments registered in her mother’s name. When asked if her mother uses any of these apartments, Panchenko replied that her mother never lived in the 64 square meter apartment and only occasionally visited the 34 square meter apartment. Panchenko did not explain why her mother needed so much unused property.

Judge Panchenko’s family reportedly survived on “rations” and lived in an apartment funded by the state. This, according to Panchenko, enabled them to buy cars and property with their official incomes.

The candidate sold a Toyota car for 100 hryvnias, explaining that the car had been in an accident. She received compensation from the insurance company and thus was satisfied with only 100 hryvnias for the entire vehicle.

Judge Panchenko did not disclose in her declaration that her daughter works as an attorney, claiming she did not know her daughter had decided to become an attorney and obtained this status.

The Ethics Council noted that the candidate’s daughter received large sums of money and withdrew them in cash. This raises the suspicion of money laundering, indicating the concealment of illegal income. Judge Panchenko could not provide any explanation.

The interview with Natalia Panchenko can be viewed through the link.

We hope the Ethics Council will select only professionals worthy of membership in the HCJ. Judges like Natalia Panchenko significantly undermine trust in the judiciary, both among the public and international partners.