Judge from Odesa region dismissed because of long vacation in Europe

The High Council of Justice has decided to dismiss Natalia Cheban, a judge of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City District Court of Odesa Oblast. The reason was a disciplinary proceeding in which the judge was found guilty of a significant violation of her professional duties.

This was reported by the press service of the Judiciary of Ukraine.

On May 7, 2026, the High Council of Justice decided to dismiss Natalia Cheban from the position of a judge of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City District Court of Odesa Oblast.

This decision was based on the submission of the Second Disciplinary Chamber of the HCJ. After reviewing the disciplinary case, the chamber concluded that the judge should be brought to disciplinary responsibility and the most severe penalty, namely, a motion for dismissal, should be applied.

The High Council of Justice noted that the decision was made in accordance with paragraph 3 of part six of Article 126 of the Constitution of Ukraine. This provision provides for the dismissal of a judge in case of a significant disciplinary offense, gross or systematic neglect of his or her duties, which is incompatible with the status of a judge.

Thus, after reviewing the materials of the disciplinary proceedings, the HCJ upheld the conclusion of the disciplinary chamber and terminated the judge's powers.

The complaint against the judge was filed by the acting head of the court, Yulia Shevchuk. She said that after the Presidential decree appointing Cheban to the position for an indefinite period of time was issued at the end of 2021, she did not report to work, continuously taking various types of leave, including unpaid leave.

However, the judge insisted that she had the right not to return to work, as she had been granted unpaid leave by order of the head of the court for the entire duration of martial law in Ukraine, which was extended by the Verkhovna Rada each time.

After all, according to the legislation of Norway, where Natalia Cheban and her child received protection, there is a ban on returning home until martial law ends.

Анна Бальчінос