The Council of Judges: who are the members tied to misconduct, violation of the oath and assistance to Pavlo Vovk and the “Party of Regions”?

The Council of Judges is notable not only for its head, Bohdan Monich, but also for several other prominent members. DEJURE Foundation introduces four such “noteworthy” figures within the Council:

Olena Zhuravska — judge of the Desniansky District Court of Kyiv

During the Revolution of Dignity, judge Olena Zhuravska sentenced innocent protesters, including the imprisonment of 19-year-old Euromaidan participant Serhiy Martyniuk and the revocation of driving rights for a participant of an Automaidan rally to Mezhyhirya based on a falsified report.

Zhuravska also had a record of missing deadlines for cases involving drunk driving, leading to offenders escaping responsibility. Furthermore, she closed cases on the grounds of “insignificance.” For Zhuravska, driving under the influence appeared to be a minor infraction. Based on these actions and her questionable assets, the Public Integrity Council issued a negative opinion.

Olena Hanechko — judge of the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeals

Judge Hanechko released from custody Serhiy Kalynovskyi, the stepson of oligarch Dmytro Firtash, who was suspected of causing a fatal accident that killed two people (Kalynovskyi later fled to Israel).

The Public Integrity Council issued a negative opinion regarding Hanechko, noting her inclusion on a list of 47 judges accused of violating the judicial oath. This list was presented by the President to the High Council of Justice, emphasizing the “presence of corruption among the judiciary” and calling for their dismissal. Nevertheless, Hanechko managed to retain her judicial position.

Oleh Holovenko — Judge of the District Administrative Court of Kyiv

In 2019, the High Qualification Commission of Judges recommended Holovenko’s dismissal due to failing the judicial exam, scoring below 50% on a practical assignment. However, this recommendation stalled for a year and a half, during which the Administrative Court of Cassation within the Supreme Court overturned the Commission’s decision.

Judge Holovenko worked in the interest of Pavlo Vovk, head of the District Administrative Court of Kyiv, as part of a scheme to obstruct the Commission’s operations and appoint allies to it. Holovenko filed a lawsuit demanding the recognition of judge Veselska’s lack of authority as a member of the Commission, represented in this matter by Oleksandr Krotiuk — a former District Administrative Court of Kyiv judge implicated in the “Vovk’s tapes” scandal.

Holovenko also presided over a panel that legitimized a ruling effectively cancelling the votes of nearly 31,000 citizens in the Obukhiv and Vasylkiv districts of Kyiv region during the 2012 parliamentary elections. As a result, the candidate from “Batkivshchyna” lost approximately 6,500 votes and the district lead to a “Party of Regions” candidate.