The High Council of Justice (HCJ) failed to make a decision on the disciplinary complaint against OASC judge Viktor Shulezhko, which was initiated upon the complaint of activist Roman Ratushny, who died at the front. The meeting was postponed again due to an equal number of votes "for" and "against" leaving the Chamber's decision in force.
The complaint concerned Judge Shulezhko’s actions in 2020, when he suspended the Kyiv City Council’s decision to restore the park to green zone status and halt development, considering the case without the parties’ participation. This allowed Daytona Group LLC to continue development, which became the basis for the disciplinary complaint.
Previously, the Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council established the judge's negligence by making a decision without proper justification and voted to hold him accountable in the form of a reprimand with deprivation of additional payments. However, at the last meeting, the votes of the Supreme Judicial Council members were evenly divided: six voted in favor of leaving the decision, six against, including Burlakov, Kovbiy, Kravchenko, Bokova, Kotelevets, and Makhinchuk.
Judge Shulezhko also filed a complaint against disciplinary inspector Pleskach for alleged conflict of interest, but it was dismissed. In addition, in November, the Supreme Judicial Council opened new disciplinary proceedings against the judge in connection with Vovk's tapes, in which he allegedly participated in plans to block the work of the HQCJ and undermine the judicial system.
The situation demonstrates the complexity of holding judges accountable and the political sensitivity of processes in the High Council of Justice, and continues to cause public outcry.
