The High Council of Justice supported the dismissal of a judge from the Odessa region due to the systematic “leniency” of drunk drivers

The High Council of Justice left unchanged the decision to bring Oleh Ivinsky, a judge of the Podilskyi City District Court of the Odessa region, to disciplinary liability and supported the motion to dismiss him.

The grounds for the disciplinary proceedings were complaints from the Patrol Police Department and a citizen who pointed to systemic violations during the consideration of cases of drunk driving.

As established by the High Council of Justice, during 2024–2025, the judge repeatedly exempted drivers from liability under Article 130 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, recognizing such actions as “minor” and limiting himself to oral remarks. At the same time, the law provides for a mandatory fine and deprivation of the right to drive without alternatives.

In addition, the inspection revealed even more serious violations: in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions, two different resolutions were published in the same cases – with identical descriptions, but opposite decisions. In some cases, drivers were punished, in others – they were released from liability.

The High Court of Justice concluded that such actions are of a systemic and intentional nature, testify to a conscious disregard for the law, distortion of the circumstances of the cases and substitution of legal norms with personal assessments of expediency.

According to the disciplinary body, such a practice undermines trust in justice, discredits the judicial system and creates a dangerous sense of impunity for drunk driving in society.

As a result, the High Council of Justice confirmed: the disciplinary penalty in the form of a motion to dismiss the judge remains in effect.