Position: Deputy Chief of Staff of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Court.
Sphere of corruption: judicial.
Region of corruption activity: Odessa region.
Qualification: the actions are qualified under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Art. 368 (obtaining unlawful benefit); Art. 369 (providing unlawful benefit); Art. 332 (organizing illegal border crossing); Art. 114-1 (obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine); Art. 376-1 (illegal interference in the work of automated justice systems).
Status: at large.
Case story: At the end of February 2025, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office exposed an organized group that helped conscripted men illegally travel abroad and receive deferments from mobilization.
According to media reports, suspicion was handed over to lawyer Stanislav Klymenko, head of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi court Valentyn Zaveryus (according to the investigation, the organizer), former head and judge of the same court Oleksandr Boyarsky, judge Serhiy Savytskyi, and deputy head of the court's staff Inna Taruta, respectively.
In the Odessa region, an organized group was exposed that worked within the judicial system and helped men subject to military service to illegally travel abroad and receive a deferment from mobilization. The SAPO prosecutor, on the instructions of the Deputy Prosecutor General - Head of the SAPO, reported suspicion to 4 persons who are members of the organized group, namely: the organizer of the crime - the head of the court; the current judge - the former head of the court; the judge; the lawyer
According to the investigation, the scheme consisted of making decisions about the alleged independent upbringing of a child by a father under fabricated circumstances. These decisions allowed men to avoid mobilization and leave the country under the pretext of caring for the child. For $3,500, a decision was made in one court session without the participation of the parties, which gave the right to travel abroad. In total, the investigation identified 1,040 such decisions.
For the conspiracy, the perpetrators created a "back office" of the court in a law firm and even advertised their "services" on social networks. Through joint efforts of NABU, SAPO and SBU, 8 members of an organized criminal group were reported on suspicion. In addition, 3 persons were reported on suspicion of committing crimes related to the activities of an organized criminal group. Three judges received disciplinary action in the form of a motion to dismiss them
Their actions are qualified under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
● Article 368 – obtaining unlawful benefit;
● Article 369 – providing unlawful benefit;
● Article 332 – organization of illegal border crossing;
● Article 114-1 – obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
● Article 376-1 – unlawful interference with the operation of automated justice systems.
Three judges received disciplinary action in the form of a motion to dismiss them.
The operation of NABU and SAPO lasted for more than a year. In January 2024, the transfer of an illegal benefit to one of the judges was documented for the promise to make the "necessary" decision. After that, the participants of the organized group continued their criminal activity. Later, in the summer and autumn of 2024, new crimes of the participants of the scheme were documented, as a result of which 9 more persons were reported on suspicion. In February 2025, NABU and SAPO collected enough evidence to qualify the actions of the participants of the scheme as part of an organized criminal group, as a result of which new suspicions were reported.
In January 2025, Valentyn Zaveryukha, a judge of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City District Court of the Odessa region, was temporarily suspended from the administration of justice based on the decision of the First Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council. Interestingly, Zaveryukha asked the High Council of Justice to close the disciplinary case against him because he had mobilized to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Supreme Judicial Council denied his request, since judges are not subject to compulsory conscription, and Zaveryukha went to serve just when a criminal case for bribery was opened against him.
Oleksandr Boyarsky was suspended in February. On November 25, 2024, the First Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council imposed disciplinary sanctions on Judge Savytsky in the form of a motion for dismissal based on a complaint from the NABU.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: in general, several persons are involved in the scheme. However, only a few names are publicly known today, in particular: the head of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi court, Valentyn Zaveryukha, lawyer Stanislav Klymenko, the former head of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi court, Oleksandr Boyarskyi, and judge Serhiy Savytskyi.
Assets: In her 2024 declaration, Tartua indicated that she had the right to free use of an apartment in Bilhorod-Dnistrovsk. The official did not declare any other real estate or vehicles.
Taruta's income for the same year was UAH 492,864, and her son's was UAH 45,255. Based on the declaration, the official has no monetary assets.
Persons who should have reacted: law enforcement agencies responded in a timely manner to the criminal activities of Taruta and her accomplices, handing over suspicions to all participants in the corruption scheme.
Scandals: Before the corruption scheme, she was not seen as a figure in other scandals.
Sources:
https://nabu.gov.ua/news/tato-na-chas-viyiny-vykryto-suddivs-ko-advokats-ku-mafiiu/
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/288caa30-d8d3-4f6d-9158-c863cc6659d4