Judge Serhii Savytskyi Released on ₴1.5M Bail Amid Corruption Charges

Judge of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City District Court of Odesa Oblast Serhii Savytskyi was released from custody after posting bail of UAH 1.5 million.

This was reported by the Slovo i Dilo media outlet, citing its own sources in anti-corruption agencies.

"The specified amount was paid for Judge Savytskyi and he was released from custody. The following obligations were imposed on him: not to leave Odesa region without permission; to report changes in his place of residence; to refrain from communicating with a number of people; to deposit his passports; to wear an electronic bracelet," the statement said.

On April 4, the High Anti-Corruption Court imposed a pre-trial restraint on judge Serhiy Savytskyi of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City District Court of Odesa Region in the form of detention. The judge is accused of organizing a scheme to send men liable for military service abroad.

Judge Savytskyi was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Court for failing to comply with the previous bail decision in the amount of UAH 2.01 million. After a review of the bail amount, the new amount was reduced to UAH 1.5 million.

The investigation found that Savytskyi, together with judges of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi court and lawyers , organized a scheme that allowed him to evade mobilization. Fake court decisions, which allegedly confirmed that men were raising their children on their own, gave them the right to travel abroad.

Each "document" cost 3.5 thousand dollars, and a total of 1040 such decisions were produced. The scheme operated through a back office in a law firm, and the "services" were openly advertised on social media.

The scheme was in operation since April 2022. During this time, more than a thousand such decisions were issued. The court fictitiously determined the place of residence of the children for the men, which allowed them to receive a deferral from mobilization. The scheme involved court employees, a lawyer, and intermediaries. The lawyer searched for clients and passed on bribes.

Ірина Глухова