The scandal in the Supreme Court is gaining momentum. As it became known from sources in the General Prosecutor's Office, judges of the Supreme Court plan to charge Vladyslav Shipovych with suspicion under Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — high treason.
What is known about the case?
- Start of investigation: The proceedings were entered into the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations (ERDR) on November 12, 2024.
- Applicant: People's Deputy Kyrylo Nesterenko, who accused the judge of actions aimed at harming the sovereignty, defense capability and state security of Ukraine.
- Claims: Suspicions are caused by the sale in 2020 of a residential building and a plot of land in the city of Horlivka, which is under occupation. In particular, the investigation is interested in whether taxes were paid to the budget of the Russian Federation or the so-called "DNR" and who became the new owner of the property.
Questions that remain unanswered
Vladyslav Shipovych, despite an official request, still has not provided explanations regarding:
- Agreements on the sale of property in the occupied territory.
- His alleged connections with persons cooperating with the occupation authorities.
Not only Shipovych
Other Supreme Court judges were also under suspicion: Olena Bilokon, Yevhen Synelnikov and Nataliya Sakara. They have questions about:
- Registration of real estate for relatives.
- Education of children abroad.
- Possible connections with the occupation authorities.
Context and possible consequences
This case became another challenge for trust in the judicial system of Ukraine. Suspicions of treason against a judge of the Supreme Court, even before the investigation is completed, can harm the reputation of the Supreme Court.
Human rights activists emphasize that the independence of judges must be preserved, but criticism from the press is necessary in a democratic society. In this context, journalistic investigations play the role of a "watchdog of democracy".
Society's reaction and next steps
The investigation is expected to provide additional details in the coming days. Meanwhile, the public is closely following the development of the situation, which may have far-reaching consequences for the judicial system of Ukraine.
