The rule of law is the main thing that modern Ukrainian society needs. A terrible tragedy for each of us is the war, which began precisely with the neglect of Ukraine's legal right to sovereignty and independence. Ukrainians feel now, more than ever, vulnerable and unprotected; one of the few constants that allows us to continue living and working in a warring country is the belief in the supremacy of justice and law.
Judges administer justice. People endowed with great authority and great responsibility. Their every move is scrutinized by society, every decision angers the loser, every statement or comment is scrutinized.
The popularity of judges is proportional to their activity: the status of the court administering justice, the resonance of the cases under consideration, all this leaves an impression on the judge himself. And despite the fact that representatives of this profession are only civil servants performing their professional duty, interest in them is huge.
"Elitexpert" conducted research and made a rating the most famous active judges of the Odesa region. Why did this region become the subject of our research? First of all, because it is one of the most significant regions of today's Ukraine. Because it was here that the courts were transferred from the occupied Ukrainian territory, and what kind of judges and how they administer justice here is a litmus test for the entire country in general. In many areas of judicial activity: in the organization of transparent court proceedings, access to justice, in the implementation of the electronic court system and mediation, Odesa courts are flagships.
When rating the judges, we were guided by such criteria as professionalism, authority among colleagues and the expert community, efficiency, innovativeness, innovation and openness. The status of the courts and their capacity to administer justice were also taken into account. In addition, we studied numerous materials on the activities of judges published in mass media.
She topped the rating Natalia Bogatska - Chairman of the South-Western Commercial Court of Appeal, Chairman of the Association of Judges of Commercial Courts of Ukraine. Doctor of Law.
For many years, the Southwestern Commercial Court of Appeal has been a regional leader in the implementation of innovations that ensure the administration of quality justice.
The court actively uses digital technologies that simplify citizens' access to legal information and court processes, and ensures transparency and promptness of cases. Constant work is being done to improve the qualifications of employees to meet the requirements of modern world standards of justice.
Bogatska is a member of the Steering Committee of the large-scale Ukrainian-Canadian project "Supporting judicial reform in Ukraine", where she is active and represents our country at international forums and meetings.
The next in the ranking is Oleksandr Dzhaburia, chairman of the Fifth Administrative Court of Appeal. Doctor of Law.
Under his leadership, the court became one of the leaders in the innovative development of the judicial system, not only in the Odesa region, but also throughout Ukraine. Currently, the court serves Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.
Judges of 5AAS, together with teachers of specialized educational institutions of the region, as part of the #CourtFromInside project, conduct scientific seminars for students and participate in the development of educational programs.
The court implemented an improved system of execution of court decisions, taking into account barriers and obstacles, during martial law on the territory of Ukraine.
The "Electronic Court" project has been fully implemented.
According to international standards, the Fifth Administrative Court of Appeal has created a modern equipped space to ensure maximum transparency of the court's work and productivity.
On the third position of the rating Ihor Artemenko - Chairman of the Odesa Court of Appeal since February 2023. Doctor of Law.
A fair and experienced judge.
He began his judicial career in 1993 at the Military Court of the Odesa Garrison.
He was a member of the Second Disciplinary Chamber of the High Council of Justice.
Currently, under his leadership, the Odesa Court of Appeal plays a key role in the local court system, providing the next level of justice and is a link between the courts of first instance and higher judicial bodies, the most important element in the system of ensuring justice and legality.
Anatoly Radchuk - Chairman of the Odesa District Administrative Court.
A promising and competent judge.
In May 2020, he obtained the scientific degree of candidate of legal sciences.
In September 2022, Radchuk was elected head of the Odesa District Administrative Court.
In 2023, a mediation office was introduced in the Odesa District Administrative Court, which functions within the framework of the Memorandum on cooperation between the court and the Ukrainian Academy of Mediation. The court also actively cooperates with specialized educational institutions.
Fifth in the rating - Sergey Chvankin, chairman of the Kyiv District Court of Odesa, chairman of the NGO "Association of Investigating Judges of Ukraine". Doctor of Law, Associate Professor of the Department of Civil Law of the National University "Odesa Law Academy".
Under his leadership, since September 2017, as part of the USAID grant project "Introduction of information technologies in the judiciary and filling information gaps in the cooperation of the judicial system and society", the Kyiv District Court became a pilot project for the implementation of the "Electronic Court" in our country.
The court is one of the top three busiest courts in Ukraine (40 cases and materials annually), since it is where most of the preventive measures at the request of law enforcement agencies and the military are considered - hundreds of cases every day.
Chvankin is a very efficient judge. On his initiative, the "Civil Justice Center" was established at the Kyiv District Court and has been successfully operating for many years, where any resident of Odesa Oblast can receive qualified legal assistance from specialists absolutely free of charge.
Serhii Kichmarenko - Chairman of Primorye District Court of Odesa.
Candidate of legal sciences, doctoral student of the Scientific Research Institute of Public Law.
A mastodon of Odessa jurisprudence, an experienced and influential judge. Author of numerous scientific works.
Kichmarenko advocates the reform of the judiciary, takes an active part in international and all-Ukrainian conferences devoted to this issue.
The Primorsky District Court participates in the working group on protection and socio-psychological support in the justice process of children who have suffered or witnessed violence.
In seventh place Oleksandr Demeshin - the head of the Economic Court of Odesa region.
An experienced, efficient judge with 21 years of experience, who has authority among his colleagues.
Non-public
The court, which he heads since February 2023, actively attracts young people to its ranks, conducts informational and educational events for students and schoolchildren, promoting the development of skills of future lawyers.
The Commercial Court is a regular participant in various international forums, conferences and meetings, and this active interstate interaction provides the court with access to innovative methods and technologies, which it successfully integrates into its work.
Deputy Chairman of the Odessa Court of Appeal Ruslan Kotelevskyi, who was ranked eighth by experts, is an authoritative and experienced judge, well-known both in judicial circles and among the public, moreover, he represents a court that is one of the most influential in the domestic hierarchy.
Ninth position in the rating Andriy Drishlyuk, deputy chairman of the Odesa Court of Appeal.
In judicial circles, he is considered a true professional in his field, has a reputation as an honest and fair judge.
Not noticed in any corruption scandals.
Often represents the region in various international projects and forums.
In connection with the martial law regime, which has become a new test for the judicial system, Andriy Drishlyuk is responsible for minimizing risks for all participants in court proceedings.
The next in the ranking is Oleksiy Starikov, deputy head of the Malinovsky District Court of Odesa.
An experienced judge. Before starting his judicial career, he worked for a long time in the SBU.
In the Malinovsky District Court, he considered a significant number of complex and high-profile cases. He participated in the consideration of the "May 2 case".
As an expert, he is a regular participant and speaker of various interdepartmental seminars, round tables, programs related to improving the qualifications of judges, prosecutors, police officers and lawyers.
Participates in international programs aimed at the development of civil society in Ukraine and strengthening of trust in the judiciary.
He is respected by law enforcement agencies and the legal community of the city.
Proactive, supports the introduction of new approaches and modern IT technologies in the judiciary.
On the eleventh position Volodymyr Gurevskyi, since March 2023 - head of the Malinovsky district court of the city of Odesa.
Candidate of legal sciences, author of a large number of scientific articles and studies.
He was engaged in teaching activities for a long time.
Good organizer.
Has a high reputation among the legal community and in the scientific environment.
Principled, not public.
In twelfth place - Viktor Pozniak, head of the Suvorovsky District Court of Odesa, where he has been working since 2002.
Competent administrator.
His professional experience is highly appreciated by experts.
Poznyak is also not public. There are no "high-profile cases" or conflicts associated with his name.
Thirteenth place in Volodymyr Petrenko, Deputy Chairman of the Kyiv District Court of Odesa. In addition to his extensive experience, he successfully combines judicial activity with scientific activity - being the author of many works on jurisprudence, civil procedural law and intellectual property law.
On the fourteenth place is the Deputy Chairman of the Primorsky District Court of the city of Odesa Victor Ivanov. Judge since 2004, one of the most influential in the Primorye Court. He has dozens of "high-profile" criminal cases under his belt, and in 2020 he was even taken hostage by one of his defendants, armed with a grenade. He also handled the case related to the scandalous inheritance of businessman Vadym Chorny.
Ihor Zavalnyuk, judge-speaker of the Odesa District Administrative Court.
Doctor of Law. He has two higher educations — pedagogical and legal. He teaches at the National School of Judges of Ukraine.
In March 2002, he began his career directly in the judicial system. In December 2005, he was appointed to the post of judge of the Komsomol district court of Kherson.
In 2009, Zavalniuk moved to Odesa.
Since December 2010, he has been serving as a judge indefinitely.
In 2015, after the adoption of the Law "On Restoration of Confidence in the Judiciary in Ukraine", he was elected deputy chairman of the Odesa District Administrative Court and served in this position for two limited terms.
Currently, he is a judge-speaker of the OOAS and comments for the press on high-profile cases under consideration by the court, due to which he gained wide recognition in the media.
16th place - the judge of the Kyiv District Court Yulia Feduleeva, which has been serving Themis since 2012.
In 2018, the Supreme Council of Justice recommended that the president appoint her as a judge indefinitely.
Feduleeva specializes in handling criminal cases, particularly high-profile ones, in one of the busiest courts in Ukraine.
Her professional activities and judgments are often viewed "under a microscope" by the public and the press. This made her one of the most mentioned judges of Odesa in the mass media - at the same time, even her enemies note her experience, professionalism and deep knowledge of the law.
On the 17th line in the rating Ella Kataeva — judge of the Odesa District Administrative Court.
In 2008, she was elected as a judge of this administrative court indefinitely.
In 2011, he was appointed to the post of deputy chairman of the Odesa District Administrative Court. She held the position of deputy head of the court for four terms.
She took part in the competition of the Higher Qualification Commission of Judges.
As a speaker at many specialized international conferences, Ella actively works to promote judicial dialogue, through case law and "mediation" with "pre-trial dispute settlement".
Serhiy Cherevko, judge-speaker of the Malinovsky District Court of Odesa.
He has been a judge since 2010. Doctor of Law.
Considered a significant number of high-profile and high-profile cases, including the case of the murder of the European rugby champion, the riot in the "Odesa Correctional Colony", the "Krayana" case, in which the mayor and the leadership of the city of Odessa were accused.
He also considered a large number of cases related to crimes against the foundations of national security and war crimes, cases concerning the heads of the occupation administration of the Kherson region - Kyryl Stremousov and Volodymyr Saldo, who are accused of treason and collaborationism.
Public. As a judge-speaker of the court, he conducts consistent multi-year activities aimed at improving communication between the judicial system, mass media, NGOs and civil society.
Nineteenth place - the judge of the Commercial Court of Odesa region Dmytro Bezdoli. he - the chairman of the board of the Association of Judicial Self-Government, known for his harsh judgments against public activists who try to put pressure on the courts "on the right of the street".
He has extensive experience as a lawyer and head of the legal service, trainer and teacher of the National School of Judges of Ukraine.
As part of the work of the Association of Judicial Self-Government, he developed and conducted educational events for judges and lawyers aimed at forming a positive image of the judiciary and increasing trust in the courts, as well as increasing the professional competence of the judiciary.
He was a member of the working group of the Supreme Council of Justice on reforming legislation on the judiciary and the status of judges, and was also a member of the working group of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on legal policy and financing of the judiciary.
Took part in the competition of the Higher Qualification Commission of Judges.
Rounding out the twenty most famous judges of the Odesa region is the judge of the Malinovsky District Court of Odesa with 18 years of experience. Oleksandr Garskyi.
He has a positive image, enjoys the respect of the Ukrainian media for his unusual sentences - among other things, he "punishes" criminals by reading books. Along with this, he considered many high-profile cases related to war crimes, treason and collaborationism.
He is considering the case on the charge of official negligence of the former head of the State Emergency Service of the Odesa region, which, according to the indictment, led to large fires with serious consequences in the "Odesa College of Economics", the "TokyoStar" hotel and the regional mental health center.
Intellectual, public. Willingly gives interviews, explaining his "educational methodology".
The material was worked on by:
Olena Ovchinnikova, Oleksandr Zakladnyi and Oleksandr Kysil
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