Judges from Odesa Oblast May Face Prison

The High Council of Justice of Ukraine has granted consent to the arrest of judges from the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi District Court of Odesa Oblast — Valentin Zaverukha and Serhiy Savitsky. 

Both are suspected of involvement in a corruption scheme that allowed men of conscription age to illegally cross the border under the cover of fictitious court decisions.

However, as the High Council of Justice emphasises, the permission granted for detention is merely a procedural step. The final word remains with the investigating judge, who must review the motion and decide on the preventive measure.

Servants of the law acting as accomplices to fugitives

According to the investigation, starting from April 2022, a group of individuals, including active judges, court staff, and hired intermediaries, launched a well-oiled mechanism for "processing" fictitious decisions to circumvent mobilisation. The essence of the scheme was that, for a financial reward of approximately $3,500, the court would officially recognise the place of residence of a minor child living with their father. This allowed the man of conscription age to obtain the right to leave Ukraine as a person providing care for a child.

The implementation of the plan involved not only the judges themselves but also a lawyer acting as an intermediary. He sought "clients", established contact with them, and organised the transfer of money. The main flow of potential clients came through advertisements on Instagram and Facebook, where "legal pathways" for lawful departure to EU countries were offered.

Over a thousand illegal decisions: court turned into a business office

According to law enforcement, in the less than two years the scheme was active, more than 1,000 fictitious decisions were issued in favour of men wishing to avoid mobilisation. This is one of the largest known episodes of systemic corruption in the Ukrainian judicial system since the full-scale Russian invasion.

Who exactly is under suspicion

– Valentin Zaverukha is charged with receiving undue advantage under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The maximum penalty is 10 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
– Serhiy Savitsky may face a penalty of up to 8 years in prison, also with confiscation.
– Oleksandr Boyarsky, the head of the same court and the third suspect in the case, is also suspected of complicity. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had previously authorised his detention. He did not appear at the High Council of Justice session, citing illness.

According to information from the ABSOLUTION detective agency