The Otrosh case (and more): what decision will the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court adopt?

Today’s hearing on the reinstatement of Inna Otrosh ended without a decision. The case was postponed until December 11 at 14:00.

Otrosh was supported by her long-time allies: Maidan judges Taras Zaiets and Oksana Tsarevych, as well as Rostyslav Kravets — one of the figures featured in the “Vovk’s tapes”.

As expected, Inna Otrosh emphasised the recent decision in the case of Maryna Lozynska, namely the annulment of the High Qualification Commission of Judges’ (HQCJ) decision to submit her for dismissal based on the qualification assessment. She is attempting to present that ruling, as well as the decision regarding judge Zaiets, as arguments that she should also be reinstated. Otrosh called the previous Grand Chamber ruling a “judicial mistake.” A reminder: in 2021, the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court already determined that Otrosh had not completed the qualification assessment. It was on this basis that in 2024 Otrosh appeared for an interview before the full HQCJ composition — and it was after this interview that the Commission recommended her dismissal.

At the very start of her statement, Otrosh also claimed that civil society is putting pressure on the Grand Chamber and interfering with the administration of justice. Furthermore, in her view, when the HQCJ and the High Council of Justice examined the facts of her visits to the temporarily occupied Crimea and Russia, they interfered in her private life.

Before posing his question to the HQCJ representative, Judge Mazur thanked the public for remaining engaged, saying that “the youth are the future of the country.” After this lyrical aside, the judge began asking whether the qualification assessment is a one-time procedure, what should be done with the existing unrevoked submission to the President on appointing Otrosh as a judge, and whether there is a procedure for the HCJ to withdraw such submissions. There are many questions in this case — we have already answered most of them here.

In addition, judge Mazur stressed that the Otrosh case is important not only because it concerns her, but because it affects many other judges as well — and on this, we cannot disagree. We hope that the judges of the Grand Chamber will not give the green light to dozens of dismissed low-integrity judges.