The Supreme Court of Justice dismissed a judge from Zhytomyr after refusing to undergo a sobriety test

The High Council of Justice has decided to dismiss Yuriy Drach from the position of judge of the Korolivskyi District Court of the city of Zhytomyr. The basis was the decision of the Second Disciplinary Chamber of the High Council of Justice of March 4, 2026, by which the judge was brought to disciplinary responsibility and the most severe disciplinary penalty was applied – a motion for dismissal from office.

The judge was stopped on the Zhytomyr – Chernivtsi highway

The incident occurred on the Zhytomyr – Chernivtsi highway. Patrol police officers stopped the Tesla Model S car, driven by judge Yuriy Drach, due to recorded violations of traffic rules.

During communication with the driver, law enforcement officers detected signs of alcohol intoxication. In particular, the police officers recorded the smell of alcohol from the breath, impaired coordination of movements and speech, as well as behavior that did not correspond to the situation.

A report on an administrative offense was drawn up in relation to the judge under Part 1 of Article 130 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.

Refused to undergo a state of intoxication examination

Yuriy Drach was offered to undergo a state of intoxication examination directly at the place of the stop using a certified gas analyzer.

The judge was also offered to undergo an appropriate examination at a healthcare facility.

Drach refused both options.

The Second Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Administrative Court concluded that such a refusal was deliberate and demonstrative in nature.

According to the members of the Chamber, the judge’s behavior was not the exercise of his procedural rights, but rather testified to a disregard for the requirements of the law and an attempt to avoid responsibility.

“Judge Drach’s behavior during the stop by patrol police officers and his subsequent actions are incompatible with the high status of a judicial officer,” the decision states.

The High Council of Justice unanimously supported the dismissal of the judge

The Disciplinary Chamber emphasized that the judge acted not with the aim of strictly observing the law, but with the obvious intention of avoiding legal liability for an offense that is of increased public danger.

On July 14, 2026, the High Council of Justice supported the conclusions of the Second Disciplinary Chamber.

The members of the High Council of Justice unanimously adopted a decision to dismiss Yuriy Drach from the position of judge of the Korolyov District Court of the city of Zhytomyr.