March 27, 2026, 9:19 p.m.
(PHOTO: Judiciary)
The High Council of Justice has asked the Prosecutor General's Office for information on the progress of the investigation into the criminal proceedings registered at the request of Konstantin Ionidi, a judge of the Prymorskyi District Court of Odesa.
The judge appealed to the HCJ with a complaint that unknown persons were interfering with his professional activities.
Konstantin Ionidi stated that on January 23, he received an indictment with a plea agreement against a local taxi driver accused of influence peddling. The next day, the court received a letter stating that the judge was to receive a bribe for approving the agreement.
The lawyer, in collusion with the director of an enterprise that had been granted the status of critical to the functioning of the economy and the livelihoods of the population, offered men who sought his legal assistance fictitious employment at the enterprise to avoid military service. The price of the service was $8,000, of which $6,000 was allegedly received by the director of the company, and the remaining $2,000 by the lawyer. The main activity of the company is the supply of steam, hot water and air conditioning. Given its status, its employees receive reservations from mobilization for military service.
One of the clients reported the lawyer to law enforcement agencies and in April 2025, under their control, transferred $1,500 to influence the TCC to remove him from the list of persons evading mobilization. Another $8,000 was transferred for employment in order to obtain armor.
On July 14, 2025, law enforcement officers documented that the lawyer received another $10,000 and UAH 40,000 from another client in a car in front of the Primorskyi District Court of Odesa to influence unidentified TCC officials to remove the fugitive from the wanted list. After that, the lawyer was detained.
Кирило Бойко