Are you an Orthodox journalist? You have no rights

Valeriy Stupnitsky in court, an illustrative photo. Photo: UOJ

Judge Viktoriya Horbatovska of the Solomiansky Court of Kyiv disrupted the court session concerning the motion of UOJ journalist V. Stupnitsky to change his pre-trial detention conditions (he has been behind bars for 4.5 months).

In response to the lawyer's legitimate request to place the journalist next to him (due to Stupnitsky's hearing impairment and his inability to hear from the glass "aquarium"), Horbatovska responded with a rude refusal. This was despite the fact that the convoy, whom she consulted for permission, had no objections. Horbatovska raised her voice at the lawyer, actually silencing him, and generally behaved as if she were a "sea queen".

The defence had no choice but to file a motion for the judge's recusal, citing her bias. Furthermore, a month earlier, Horbatovska had already unlawfully rejected a motion from Stupnitsky's defence, cynically claiming that the journalist "failed to appear for the hearing" (as if he could voluntarily come or not come from the detention facility).

The question arises: why does the judge behave this way? After all, Stupnitsky is neither a murderer nor a robber. He posed no threat to the court. He could not escape (the windows in the court are barred). He had every right to be near his lawyer and to conduct his defence. Why did you have to be rude to the lawyer and cause a scandal?

There might be be several answers. This includes the "deification" of some of our judges (incidentally, Horbatovska herself has been involved in public scandals for "covering up" a colleague caught drunk-driving and was subjected to disciplinary action by the Disciplinary Chamber of the High Council of Justice). This is also a sense of impunity. But the main reason appears to be the social trend of viewing UOC representatives as enemies and second-class citizens.

So, Ukraine is certainly a democratic country. But, as practice shows, not for everyone.

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