Searches in VKKSU: why SBI investigators seize documents and servers
11 March 19:52
on March 11, 2025, officers of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) searched the premises of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (HQCJU). About it reports
The reason for the searches was the suspicion of interference in the work of the information system of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, which could lead to the termination or cancelation of competitions for judicial positions. In this regard, the GBR officers seized servers to check possible illegal influence on the evaluation processes.
In addition, law enforcers requested documents related to the qualification evaluation of judges of the liquidated District Administrative Court of Kyiv (DACK). Already on March 17, the first stage of testing should take place for 41 judges, among whom there are seven former judges of the OACC.
As stated in the court’s ruling, which was received by the Komersant ukrainskyi
From the content of this document it follows that the searches were authorized by the Pechersk district court of Kiev. on March 10, 2025, investigating judge Irina Litvinova considered the petition of the investigator of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Serhiy Katsyov for permission to conduct a search in the premises of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (HQCU).
The latter justified the need for the search by the fact that the pre-trial investigation is looking into possible illegal interference in the work of automated systems when evaluating candidates for judicial positions.
The case was opened under Article 376-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for liability for illegal interference in the work of automated systems of judicial authorities.
Based on the ruling of the investigating judge, permission to search was granted in the administrative building of the VKKSU, located in Kyiv at 9 General Shapovala Street. Investigators were authorized to seize documents, electronic media and other physical evidence that could confirm or deny the facts of interference.
The judge noted that the decision is not subject to appeal.
What happened on July 9, 2024
The investigation found that on July 9, 2024, during the qualification evaluation of judges, unauthorized changes could have been made to the electronic system, which affected the formation of the final results. According to the “Judicial Reporter” with reference to its own sources, the participants found incorrectness of the generated test questions in the test notebooks: the same questions were repeatedly repeated in each variant of each participant of the exam.
This situation causes serious concern, because possible violations may not only affect the objectivity of the judging contests, but also call into question the legitimacy of the qualification assessment. This, in turn, may lead to a crisis in the judicial system and delay the reform of justice in Ukraine.
