Maidan-Era Judge Maryna Shakhovnina May Receive Lifetime Appointment: HACC Is Reviewing Her Candidacy

The judge from the Maidan era, Marina Shakhovnya, may receive an indefinite appointment: the High Council of Justice (HCJ) is considering her candidacy

Marina Shakhovnya, a judge of the Podilskyi District Court of Kyiv who ruled on participants in the Revolution of Dignity, is today seeking an indefinite appointment. Her candidacy is being considered by the High Council of Justice after a corresponding recommendation by the Qualification Commission on Harward of Judges (VKKS).

This was reported by the High Council of Justice. A meeting on VKKS’s recommendation to appoint Shakhovna (Shakhovnya) as a judge of the Podilskyi District Court is scheduled for 6 October 2026 of the year.

Shakhovnya was appointed a judge of the Podilskyi District Court in 2012 year for a term of 5 years. She continues to work there.

During the Revolution of Dignity, in the winter of 2014, Shakhovnya at least in three cases deprived protesters of the right to drive a car for 3 months.

One of the most high-profile cases concerned Serhiy Sesyk. 24 January 2014 of the year he was held responsible for allegedly failing to comply with a police command to stop. The case materials included various license plate numbers, but there was no evidence that Sesyk was the one at the wheel. The hearing was held without his participation.

Later it was established that the report on which the decision was based was falsified.

During the qualification assessment, Shakhovnya explained that she perceived these materials as ordinary cases of traffic violations. According to her, the cases did not contain information about drivers’ participation in the protests.

Some questions also arose regarding her integrity declaration for 2016 year. In the document, the judge did not mention making decisions in cases related to the Maidan. In 2018 year VKKS recognized the submitted information as inaccurate. At the same time, HCJ then did not hold Shakhovnya to disciplinary liability, deeming the situation an error.

The Civil Integrity Council approved a new conclusion on the judge’s integrity on 20 October 2025 year. In it, the Council concluded that Shakhovnya did not meet the criteria of integrity and professional ethics.

GRC, in addition to Maidan cases and declarations, raised issues of late asset declarations, the anti-corruption check, circumstances of Shakhovnya’s election as head of the Podilskyi District Court, and academic integrity. Specifically, there were concerns about the similarity of certain parts of her 2020 year dissertation with the work of another author.

Despite the GRC’s conclusion, VKKS, based on the qualification assessment results, recognized Shakhovnya as meeting the current position. The decision was supported by 11 members of the Commission, with 4 opposed. In July 2025, the VKKS collegium determined that the matter of the judge’s compliance should be reviewed by the plenary session of the Commission.

Now the final decision on the recommendation to appoint her as a judge of the Podilskyi District Court of Kyiv is being considered by the High Council of Justice.