An Odessa judge, known for her love of money and drinks, was mobilized into the Ukrainian Armed Forces but was caught drinking, according to reports.

Judge Lyudmila Saltan of the Kyiv District Court in Odesa sought to evade punishment for her corruption crime by enlisting in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, during her service, she was spotted inebriated, as investigated by journalists from the "Sledstvo.Info" project.

In April 2023, the High Council of Justice (HCJ) removed Saltan from her judicial duties after she was caught accepting a bribe for making a favorable decision in a civil case. In the fall of 2024, she decided to enlist, but her military unit's command reported her for alcohol consumption.

Lyudmila Saltan had been serving as a judge since May 13, 2009. As noted in the decision of the High Council of Justice, in March 2023, she offered one of the parties involved in a dispute $4,000 for a favorable ruling.

She made the bribery proposal to the plaintiff directly in her office. Saltan emphasized that the money needed to be delivered quickly, as she was going on vacation. The plaintiff refused to pay the bribe and reported her to the NABU. She was detained on March 29, 2023, while meeting the plaintiff in her car on Marazliyevskaya Street during the money transfer.

The judge was charged with a criminal offense under part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ("Acceptance of a proposal, promise, or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official"). This could lead to a prison sentence of five to ten years, along with a prohibition from holding certain positions and confiscation of property.

Mobilization in the Armed Forces of Ukraine for Judges: How It Works

The High Anti-Corruption Court is examining Saltan's case. In September 2024, the judge decided to enlist and was assigned the position of a sailor in the reserve of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade. Since October 24, Saltan has been serving in a different military unit.

However, on December 5, 2024, the High Council of Justice (HCJ) received a letter from the command of the military unit where Lyudmila Saltan serves, stating that since the beginning of her service, she had not participated in combat operations.

It is known that on November 27, Saltan reported for duty in a state of alcohol intoxication, resulting in an administrative protocol being drawn up against her. The case will be heard in the Malynivskyi District Court of Odesa, with no hearing date set yet.

Lyudmila Saltan did not attend the meeting of the 2nd Disciplinary Chamber of the HCJ, where her disciplinary case was being considered. Together with her lawyer, she filed a motion to halt the proceedings due to her mobilization. The hearing has been postponed to January 29, 2025.

This is not the first instance of mobilized judges consuming alcohol in military units. Recently, the HCJ dismissing Judge Svitlana Kolehaieva of the Desnyansky District Court of Kyiv, who was involved in a drunk driving incident. The woman had enlisted to avoid accountability but was caught intoxicated during her service.

Activists from "Avtomaydan" informed journalists that mobilization in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a common practice to evade punishment, including among judges.

As a reminder, in Ukraine, future judges are exempt from taking IQ tests in competitions for positions.