"They wanted to fit in": Why do the Supreme Court judges support the head of the Lviv State Court of Justice, who holds Russian citizenship? / Collage by Channel 24
The judges of the Cassation Commercial Court may have supported the controversial judge Bohdan Lvov for personal reasons. He was their formal and informal boss, writes 24.
Sabotage of the decision to dismiss Lvov The judges of the Civil Court violated the provisions of the Constitution and Ukrainian legislation. Galina Chizhik, an expert at the Anti-Corruption Action Center, told Channel 24 that
The Supreme Court judges "signed up" for Lviv.
The expert noted that the meeting of judges of the Cassation Commercial Court as part of the Supreme Court on the issue of Bohdan Lvov's dismissal took place at the initiative of a third of the judges who responded to the emergence of a journalistic investigation and documents obtained by journalists indicating that the court chairman is a Russian citizen.
«The issue raised at the meeting was his dismissal from the administrative position of court chairman, but not from his judicial position. In reality, the results of this vote no longer have any bearing on Lviv's future in the judicial system. This vote demonstrated that the Supreme Court needs to be cleaned up. “,” the representative of the State Prosecutor’s Office explained.
According to her, the Supreme Court has “a great many unworthy judges who ignore the Constitution and the norms of Ukrainian law.”
The judges wanted to "sign up" for their formal and informal boss, since it's important to remember that Lviv is the leader of one of the influential judicial groups. The judicial system in Ukraine has existed for years, with several judicial bosses influencing who will be a member of the High Council of Justice and a judge of the Constitutional Court, thereby exerting pressure on judges and courts.
— Chizhik explained.
She added that since yesterday, when the SBU officially confirmed that Lvov is a Russian citizen, he has had a passport, which he voluntarily applied for from Russian authorities in 2012.
"After this, his powers are automatically terminated, meaning there's no need to dismiss him further. This is stipulated by the Constitution of Ukraine and Ukrainian legislation. The next step should be an order from Supreme Court Chairman Vsevolod Knyazev to remove Bohdan Lvov from the court," the expert is convinced.
Watch the video for details on the "passport" scandal involving KGS Judge Bohdan Lvov.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drn1XUxxl-M&ab_channel=24%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB
Voting failure
Chizhik believes that behind-the-scenes relations likely outweighed the vote on Lvov’s resignation.
"It's clear that nothing can save him now, not even power and influence. But for some reason, the judges haven't realized this, which is very unfortunate. Their desire to save themselves and their own skins, to salvage the court's reputation, and the interests of corporate solidarity failed them. Instead, some kind of loyalty—or fear of Lviv—came into play," the expert noted.
According to her, after the majority of judges came out in support of Lvov, he will “go down,” taking the entire Cassation Commercial Court with him.
The Supreme Court judges are considering what to do with the KGS.
The expert emphasized that there could be changes within the KGS, as several judges have publicly voiced their position and initiated a meeting to discuss Lvov's dismissal.
«All those judges who voted for his dismissal will also have the courage to publicly announce their vote. Of course, those who voted for Lvov when they realized things were "troublesome" will probably try to "join in." But it won't be difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff."," she explained.
In her opinion, when they talk about the upcoming cleansing of the Supreme Court, it will be necessary to once again test the judges for virtue.
«This is a task that the preliminary High Qualification Commission failed to accomplish. The number one priority now is to form a completely new composition of the Supreme Qualification Commission and the High Qualification Commission. Subsequently, they should begin evaluating Supreme Court judges. I suspect Lviv is not alone among those with Russian passports, so law enforcement agencies, particularly the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), will have a separate task."," Chizhik concluded.
Lvov has Russian citizenship: what is known
- Journalists previously reported that Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Bohdan Lvov was a Russian citizen. He also has access to state secrets.
- It later emerged that a vote of no confidence in Lvov had been unsuccessful. The majority of judges at the State Court of Justice did not support placing the question of a vote of confidence or no confidence in the judge on the agenda.
- The SBU established that Lvov had held Russian citizenship since 2012. His citizenship was extended because his passport had expired in 1999.
- Subsequently, the State Court of Justice failed to vote to remove Lvov from his position as court chairman, falling short by one vote.
By topic: Judge Bohdan Lvov, a Russian citizen, was not fired. One vote was missing.
A Ukrainian judge with a Russian passport. Investigation continues.
The Old Face of Judicial Reform: How Bohdan Lvov Will Run the Supreme Court
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