High Council of Justice Takes Decisive Action Against Judges of Mar’їнsky District Court: Suspension and Arrest Authorization Amid Corruption and Crime Allegations
On Wednesday, August 21, the Supreme Judicial Council convened to address a significant issue concerning personnel changes in the Mar’їнsky District Court of Donetsk region.
In collaboration with the General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine, the Council received a request to suspend two judges of this court — Iryna Sydorenko and Oleg Tarasenko — due to suspicions of involvement in criminal activities, including corruption and abuse of power.The decision of the Council was to temporarily suspend the judges from their duties until a final decision is made in the criminal case.
Additionally, the Council authorized their arrest — a necessary step to conduct investigative actions and prevent potential influence on witnesses and other participants.The initiative was led by Deputy Prosecutor General Maria Vdovichenko, who emphasized the seriousness of the suspicions against the judges.
According to official information, the allegations pertain to obstructing the activities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, falsifying documents to avoid mobilization, illegal transportation across borders, and interference in the automated case management system — crimes that could harm national security.This recent scandal highlights the ongoing efforts to fight corruption within the judiciary and improve transparency and accountability in Ukraine’s judicial system.
While activists and human rights advocates call for more decisive measures, the Supreme Council of Justice continues to execute its functions, demonstrating readiness to confront any criminal behavior in the judiciary.
It is also noteworthy that some judges of the same court have recently been investigated for publicly justifying Russian aggression and spreading Kremlin narratives, raising concerns about the independence of the judiciary.Thus, this case further confirms systemic issues within Ukraine’s judicial system and underscores the need for continued reforms to ensure fair justice and fight corruption at the highest levels.