One of Ukraine’s most controversial judges, Pavlo Vovk, the head of the Kyiv Administrative District Court, was placed on the wanted list – again.
On Nov. 3, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) accused Vovk, a suspect in one of the bureau’s cases, of ignoring scheduled interrogations.
In August, Vovk was charged with organized crime, usurpation of power, bribery and unlawful interference in the work of the High Qualification Commission of Judges, a state body that selects and vets judges.
Back then, Vovk and seven members of his court were added on to the wanted list for the first time. Vovk responded that he wasn’t hiding and was ready to participate in interrogations. However, he did not follow through on the promise.
Even though Vovk is wanted, as a judge he can’t be detained or forced to attend interrogations. His immunity can be lifted by the High Council of Justice. However, on Sept. 1, the council unanimously refused to suspend Vovk and several other top judges charged with corruption.
However, while Vovk enjoys his immunity, being on the wanted list means he can’t leave the country.
Notorious Vovk
Vovk likely is the most notorious judge in Ukraine.
On July 17, the Prosecutor General’s Office and NABU published audio recordings implicating Vovk and other judges of his court in alleged crimes.
In the 45-minute audio recording, voices alleged to belong to Vovk and other judges discuss a variety of criminal activities.
Read More: Case against notorious judges shows dire need of reforming Ukraine’s judiciary.
As a result of the audio, Vovk and five other judges of his court were charged with usurping power by influencing the integrity of the High Qualification Commission.
The judges are Vovk’s deputy Yevhen Ablov, Ihor Pohribnichenko, Ihor Kachur, Bohdan Sanin, Oleksiy Ohurtsov, Volodymyr Keleberda and Mykola Sirosh. All of them were added to NABU’s wanted list in August.
Zenovy Kholodnyuk, head of the State Judicial Administration, was also charged with bribery and organized crime.
All deny wrongdoing.
The State Judicial Administration is responsible for handling day-to-day issues, including financial matters, to support Ukraine’s court system.
In the NABU tapes, Vovk allegedly promises to help Kholodnyuk keep his job in exchange for him appointing a member of the High Qualification Commission loyal to Vovk.
According to NABU, Kholodnyuk appointed Serhiy Ostapets as a member of the commission in May 2019 as part of the deal. Ostapets, who was also charged, was placed on the NABU wanted list together with Vovk.
On Aug. 3, the High Anti-Corruption Court released Kholodnyuk without bail. However, the court ruled that the charges against him were valid and instructed the judicial official not to speak to other suspects in the case.
On Oct. 30, Slidstvo.Info investigative journalism agency published a short film showing Vovk ties with Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and his allies.
Using the recordings of Vovk, Slidstvo.Info showed that the judge had often spoken with Serhiy Chebotar, a former deputy and current close associate of Avakov. The two men discussed with Chebotar appointing a person loyal to Vovk to the High Qualification Commission of Judges, which vets, hires and fires judges.
Back in 2017, Avakov’s son Oleksandr and Chebotar were charged by NABU with embezzling Hr 14 million ($550,000) by supplying overpriced backpacks to the Interior Ministry.
Vovk’s court closed the case.
