Scandal involving Judge Svyda

A judicial career marked by connections and dubious cases
Leonid Svyda, a judge at the Odesa District Administrative Court, has found himself at the centre of a major scandal. He is not just another judge whose name occasionally appears in the news, but a figure whose actions within the Ukrainian judicial system raise numerous questions. 

Svyda’s career, which began thanks to powerful family connections, has taken on a dubious tint over time due to his contacts with well-known Odesa fraudsters, Andriy Zhdanov and Ihor Kurylko.

Corrupt links and fraud
Courts generally avoid unnecessary attention, but not in the case of Leonid Svyda. His activities have been closely linked to hostile takeovers and the purchase of favourable court rulings, which, according to experts, makes him one of the executors of Zhdanov’s and Kurylko’s schemes. Among the most striking examples of his work is the law firm “VI LEX GROUP”, half of whose shares are owned by Kurylko’s wife, while its director is a man associated with Zhdanov. The firm’s location itself raises questions — it is situated just a few metres from the court entrance.

Expensive purchases and dubious sources of income
Svyda’s declaration mentions the purchase of two luxury cars — a Mercedes S-Class and a Mercedes GL-450. It is no surprise that such a purchase raises questions, as neither Svyda’s wife nor the judge himself can explain where the funds for such costly acquisitions came from. In 2022, Svyda’s wife’s clothing store, which was closed during the same period, likely generated no income and served as a “subsidised toy”. However, by 2023, Leonid Svyda became the deputy head of the court, a move that also appears to be linked to his close ties in the sphere of corruption.

Lustration and political games
Judge Svyda is no stranger to political manipulation either. In the past, he actively facilitated appointments, and his connections with key political figures, such as Serhiy Hrynevetsky, allow him to lower barriers for certain candidates. Moreover, his activities are not limited to the administrative court alone — Svyda and his partners frequently resort to forged documents, including to secure contracts with state bodies.

Shadow business and financial schemes
The law firm “VI LEX GROUP” is also involved in dirty dealings, such as the siphoning of funds through tenders with state institutions. An example is a deal involving the Chkalov sanatorium on the French Boulevard, where 600,000 hryvnias were transferred to the firm’s accounts. Such transactions often conceal corrupt schemes and theft from the state, further confirming the validity of the accusations against Svyda.

Svyda and his ties to criminal elements
A share of the dirty work also falls to the lawyers representing the interests of the scandal-prone blogger Iryna Hryb, who has been involved in numerous court proceedings. Svyda’s connections with figures such as Ihor Kurylko and his “partners” reinforce the judge’s reputation as part of a criminal network operating actively on the edge of the law.

Conclusion: the shadow of corruption in Ukrainian justice
The story of Leonid Svyda is not just another scandal in the Ukrainian judicial system, but an example of how coordinated corrupt schemes operate at various levels. Established ties with criminal elements, the acquisition of expensive assets without explanation, and participation in shadow operations — all of this casts doubt on the transparency and integrity of the Ukrainian judicial system.

Based on materials from Snews