Journalists discovered an archive on Vitaliy Kostrytskyi’s social media pages containing photos of him wearing a T-shirt bearing Soviet symbols, pictures from trips to Moscow, and references to a certificate of merit and an organisation supporting the army. In the documents, Kostrytskyi is listed as a judge at the Luhansk Court of Appeal, seconded to the Odesa Court of Appeal.
Briefly about the main points
- A photo featuring Soviet symbols was found on Kostrytskyi’s social media pages.
- Among the photos is one taken on Red Square with his family.
- The certificate of the «All-Union Order of Lenin» is also mentioned.
- The Luhansk Court of Appeal is specified as the judge’s primary place of work.
- The High Council of Justice may assess a judge’s conduct in disciplinary proceedings.
Photographs from Moscow, Soviet symbols and references to the certificate
The materials found include photographs Vitaliy Kostrytskyi wearing a T-shirt featuring Soviet symbols. Journalists also drew attention to photographs from trips to Moscow, in particular from Red Square, where the judge is pictured with his family.
The archive of pages mentions a certificate from the «All-Union Order of Lenin» and membership of the Society for the Support of the Army.
The status of a seconded judge and the procedure for disciplinary assessment
In his annual declaration for 2025, submitted on 19 March 2026, Kostrytskyi stated that he held the post of judge at the Odesa Court of Appeal and performed public functions. At the same time, the High Council of Justice’s list, as at 1 July, lists the Luhansk Court of Appeal as his home court; in the High Council of Prosecutors’ documents, he is listed as seconded to Odesa.
The law provides for a disciplinary assessment of a judge’s conduct following a complaint, an investigation and a decision by the High Council of Justice. Old photographs, trips or posts do not automatically imply liability: what matters is their content, timing and context.
