Oleksandr Tupytskyi
Олександр Тупицький
12th Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine
In office
17 September 2019 – 15 May 2022
Preceded byNataliya Shapata
Succeeded byvacant
Personal details
Born
Oleksandr Mykolayovych Tupytskyi

(1963-01-28) 28 January 1963
Biloziria, Ukraine, Soviet Union

Oleksandr Mykolayovych Tupytskyi (Ukrainian: Олександр Миколайович Тупицький; born on 28 January 1963), is a Ukrainian former official, lawyer, judge who had been the 12th chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine from 2019 to 2022.

On 29 December 2020, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed Tupytskyi from the post of Chairman of the Constitutional Court for a period of two months, but the Constitutional Court ruled the decision of the President illegal and refused to comply with the decree.[1] The suspension was extended for a period of one month by the Decree of the President of Ukraine. At the same time, together with his wife, he has been under US visa sanctions in connection with "significant acts of corruption" and "receiving a monetary bribe while working in the Ukrainian judicial system.".[2][3]

On 14 May 2013, he was appointed a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine by President Viktor Yanukovych.

He had been the deputy chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to 2018 to 2019.

He is a candidate of sciences in public administration as of 2009.[4]

Biography

Oleksandr Tupytskyi was born in Biloziria, Ukraine on 28 January 1963.

After finishing school, he did military service. He worked as a milling machine at the Smila radio equipment factory and the Strommashina factory in Cherkasy.

In 1988, he graduated from the Kharkiv Law Institute, majoring in "Jurisprudence".

He graduated from the Kharkov Law Institute. F. E. Dzerzhinsky with a degree in law in 1988.

From 1988 to 1993, he was an intern at the Prosecutor's Office of Donetsk, then investigator, then promoted to senior investigator of the Prosecutor's Office of the Kuibyshev district of the city.

Between 1993 and 2010, he became the judge of the Kuibyshevsky district court of Donetsk. In 2002, he became the chairman of that court. During that time, he was a member of the qualification and disciplinary commission of the bar of the Donetsk Oblast and a member of the Council of Judges of the Donetsk Oblast.

In 2006, he studied in the United States under the "Open World" program.

He is a candidate of Sciences in Public Administration with a degree in Public Administration Mechanisms as of 2009,[4] where he defended his thesis for the degree of candidate of sciences in public administration on the topic "State mechanism for improving the quality of professional training of judges" with the specialty 25.00.02 "Mechanisms of public administration" at the Donetsk State University of Administration.

In 2010 to 2013, he was elected and worked as a judge in the Donetsk, Lviv, Dnepropetrovsk Courts of Appeal. He served as chairman of the Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk Courts of Appeal.

On 14 May 2013, by Decree No. 256/2013, Tupytskyi was appointed a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.[5] He took the oath on 15 May.

From 2018 to 2019, he was the deputy chairman. On 17 September 2019, at a special plenary session of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, Tupytskyi was elected as the Chairman of the Constitutional Court for a term of three years.[6]

On 29 October 2020, under the chairmanship of Tupytskyi, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine recognized a significant part of the anti-corruption reform in Ukraine as unconstitutional.[7] The decision was harshly criticized by Ukrainian and international politicians, experts and journalists, seeing it as an attack on the fight against corruption in Ukraine. On 7 November 2020, activists of the NGO "Anti-Corruption Center" came to his house in Vasylkiv, registered as his mother-in-law, and, after clashes with the police, installed a gallows near the fence.[8]

In December 2020, President Zelenskyi announced that Tupytskyi could not remain in office and should resign.[9]

On 20 December, Zelenskyi signed a decree on the suspension of Tupytskyi for two months from the post of judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, based on a request from the Prosecutor General's Office.[10][11] The next day, the Constitutional Court declared that by doing so, "Zelensky went beyond the limits of his constitutional powers, violating the Constitution."[12]

The Office of the President of Ukraine called this statement "legally void", the General Prosecutor's Office stated that the President suspended Tupytskyi in accordance with the requirements of the law, and the position of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine was unfounded.[13][14]

On 19 January 2021 employees of the State Security Department did not allow Tupytskyi to enter the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and his office, after which he called the police and wrote a statement about "obstructing him in the performance of official duties."[15][16] On 28 January, Tupytsky filed a lawsuit at the District Administrative Court of Kyiv, demanding to "recognize the actions of the State Security Department as illegal" and to oblige the UDO to "refrain from preventing him from accessing the territory of the Constitutional Court."[15]

On 1 February, Zelenskyi's decree on Tupytskyi's removal from office was challenged in the Supreme Court of Ukraine, but on 3 February, the Supreme Court decided to refuse to open proceedings.

On 8 February, the court refused to enforce the claim, as it concluded that there were no legal grounds for this.[17][18]

On 26 February, by President Zelenksyy's decree, Tupytskyi was again removed from the position of judge of the Constitutional Court for one month starting from 28 February 2021.[19]

On 17 March 2021, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine was supposed to hold a special plenary meeting to consider the issue of Tupytskyi's suspension, but it did not take place because Tupytskyi himself was not allowed to enter the courthouse.[20][21][22]

On 27 March, Zelenskyi signed a decree canceling President Yanukovych's 2013 decrees on the appointment of Oleksandr Tupytskyi and Oleksandr Kasminin as judges of the Constitutional Court. Thus, Tupytskyi and Kasminin were deprived of their powers as judges of the Constitutional Court and chairman of the court.[23] Subsequently, the Representative of the President of Ukraine at the Counstitual Court Fedir Venislavskyi explained that in this way they also lost the status of a judge (of general jurisdiction) and the right to life insurance as a judge of the Constitutional Court. Venislavskyi advised all those who disagree with the decision to appeal to the Supreme Court or the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, as only they can challenge the president's decree.[24][25]

On 8 April the Constitutional Court of Ukraine received a constitutional submission from a group of 49 people's deputies regarding the unconstitutionality of the decree of the President of Ukraine on the cancellation of the decrees appointing Tupytskyi and Kasminin to the positions of judges of the Constitutional Court.[26]

The European Solidarity party explained the appeal to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine with the intention to prevent the "usurpation of power" by Zelensky.[27]

On 1 July 2021, Tupytskyi filed a lawsuit against the Constitutional Court with a demand to award more than ₴900,000 in judges' salaries. In the lawsuit, he demanded that the Constitutional Court's inaction regarding the non-payment of wages in the period from 18 April to 28 August 2020 be recognized as illegal.[28][29]

On 16 August, the President's Office contested Tupytskyi's reinstatement as a judge of the Constitutional Court. The renewal became possible after the Supreme Court annulled President Zelenskyi's decree on the release of Tupytskyi.[30]

On 9 December 2021, the US Treasury Department added Tupytskyi, along with the former deputy head of President Yanukovych's Administration Andriy Portnov, to the sanctions list, accusing him of using influence to make custom decisions in courts and undermining the reform of the judicial system.[31]

He terminated his powers as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine on 15 May 2022 due to the expiration of his term of office.

On 23 August 2022, Tupytskyi is declared wanted.[32]

Investigation

In December 2020, the "Schemes" program published a recording of Tupytskyi's conversation about involvement in referee fraud and receiving bribes, conducted by the SBU.[33]

Tupytsky convinced the witness not to testify to the law enforcement officers and talked about business schemes in which he was probably involved.

Data were also made public that Tupytskyi bought and did not declare land in Crimea, temporarily occupied by Russia, which he became the owner of in 2018 under Russian laws, confirmation was received from Russia.[34] Tupytskyi explained this by the fact that he "doesn't know how" to declare it, citing it as the Russian occupation of Crimea.[35]

On 19 January 2021, the SBI notified Tupytsky of suspicion of crimes under Part 2 of Article 384, Article 386 of the Criminal Code (knownly false testimony combined with artificial creation of defense evidence, bribing a witness to refuse to testify).[36][37]

On 1 March, the SBI initiated a criminal case against Tupytskyi on self-rights.[38]

On 26 March the Chairman of the NAKC, Oleksandr Novikov, drew up a protocol regarding Tupytskyi, because he canceled the meeting of the Constitutional Court, which was supposed to consider the appeal of the State Bureau of Investigation about his commission of a misdemeanor.[39][40][41] The protocol was drawn up based on the fact of "failure to report the existence of a real conflict of interest". The deputy head of the Constitutional Court, Serhiy Holovaty, convened a plenary session of the court, but Tupytskyi, according to the NAKC, "illegally issued an order canceling the previously issued order."

In July 2021, the SBI reported that it was investigating Tupytskyi for involvement in two more criminal offenses — in particular, regarding the possible arbitrary assignment of power and interference in the automated distribution of court cases.[42] The investigation is taking place at the request of the president's representative in the Venislavskyi Constitutional Court.

On 8 November 2021, the SBI sent a case to the court accusing Tupytskyi of unauthorized interference in the work of the automated system "Treasury Client - Treasury". According to the investigators, during 12/29/2020-02/9/2021, the chief accountant of the Constitutional Court illegally signed 207 documents on behalf of Tupytskyi, as well as signed electronic payment instructions for the payment of the judge's remuneration, wages to employees of the Constitutional Court Secretariat, along with bonuses, assistance, allowances and other payments.[43]

Other scandals

On 10 January 2021 the publication "Censor.net" published a report about Tupytskyi's vacation at the royal villa in Dubai, the cost of which is over ₴300,000 per day.[44]

On 12 January he Constitutional Court confirmed that Tupytskyi with his wife and son were on vacation in the United Arab Emirates, but stated that the cost of the vacation was lower.[45] The court apparatus also reported that Tupytskyi's income for 2020 amounted to ₴3.71 million.[46]

Scientific achievements

He has publications on state mechanisms to improve the quality of professional training of judges, economic law, and problematic issues of constitutional justice. He was a participant of international conferences and professional meetings.

References

  1. ↑ "Указ Зеленского об отстранении Тупицкого в КСУ назвали юридически ничтожным". EADaily (in Russian). Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Elevating Anti-Corruption Leadership and Promoting Accountability for Corrupt Actors". United States Department of State. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "США запровадили санкції проти ексглави Конституційного суду України Тупицького". www.eurointegration.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  4. 1 2 Науковці України Archived 2020-02-21 at the Wayback Machine irbis-nbuv.gov.ua (in Ukrainian)
  5. ↑ "Указ Президента України №256/2013". Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (17 September 2019). "Обрано нового голову та заступника КСУ". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Знищення декларування: Як Конституційний Суд обнулив себе, хто винен та як вийти з ситуації". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Біля будинку голови КС встановили шибеницю, сталися сутички, УП, 7 листопада 2020
  9. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (25 December 2020). "Тупицький не може бути головою КСУ, перезавантаження суду має початися з цього – Зеленський". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  10. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (29 December 2020). "Зеленський підписав указ про відсторонення Тупицького від посади судді КСУ – ОП". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "Зеленський відсторонив главу КСУ". РБК-Україна (in Russian). Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  12. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (30 December 2020). "КСУ: Зеленський порушив Конституцію указом про відсторонення Тупицького". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  13. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (30 December 2020). "Заяви КСУ щодо відсторонення Тупицького є "юридично нікчемними" – Офіс президента". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Роз'яснення Офісу Генпрокурора щодо законності відсторонення від посади судді Голови Конституційного Суду України". Генеральна прокуратура України. www.gp.gov.ua. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  15. 1 2 "УДО не пускає Тупицького до КС, він викликав поліцію". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  16. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (19 January 2021). "Тупицький написав заяву до поліції через недопуск до КСУ та "перешкоджання роботі"". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "Олександр Тупицький vs УДО: ОАСК відмовив у забезпеченні позову | Окружний адміністративний суд міста Києва". oask.gov.ua. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  18. ↑ "Тупицький програв суд проти Управління держохорони. Його поки не будуть пускати до КСУ". РБК-Україна (in Russian). Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "Указ Президента України №79/2021". Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "Спецзасідання КСУ не відбулося. Тупицького не пропустили в суд". РБК-Україна (in Russian). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Спеціальні пленарні засідання Конституційного Суду України не відбулися | Конституційний Суд України". www.ccu.gov.ua. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  22. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (17 March 2021). "КСУ: спеціальне засідання, яке скликав Тупицький, не відбулося – його не допустили до суду". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Особи, призначені Януковичем до Конституційного Суду, можуть відправлятися на заслужений відпочинок – Володимир Зеленський". Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  24. ↑ "Тупицький і Касмінін втратили статус судді і довічне забезпечення – Веніславський". www.ukrinform.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  25. ↑ "Скандал у КСУ: у Зеленського прояснили долю звільнених суддів". Україна 24 (in Ukrainian). 27 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  26. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (8 April 2021). "Совгиря: до КСУ надійшло депутатське подання, в якому оскаржується указ щодо Тупицького і Касмініна". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  27. ↑ ""Європейська Солідарність" проти правового хаосу та узурпації влади Президентом України | Європейська Солідарність" (in Ukrainian). 8 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  28. ↑ "Тупицький подав позов проти КСУ, хоче відсудити понад 900 тисяч гривень". РБК-Украина (in Russian). Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  29. ↑ "Олександр Тупицький позивається до КСУ: ОАСК вирішує питання відкриття провадження в адміністративній справі | Окружний адміністративний суд міста Києва". oask.gov.ua. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  30. ↑ "Офіс президента оскаржив "відновлення" Тупицького". РБК-Украина (in Russian). Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  31. ↑ "США запровадили санкції проти українців: хто увійшов до списку". РБК-Украина (in Russian). Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  32. ↑ "Ексголову КСУ Тупицького оголосили в розшук". РБК-Украина (in Russian). Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  33. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (21 December 2020). ""Схеми" опублікували розмову голови Конституційного суду про причетність до суддівського шахрайства та отримання хабарів". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  34. ↑ "Голова Конституційного суду не задекларував землю в Криму, власником якої став після анексії за законами Росії – "Схеми"". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  35. ↑ "Не знаю, як це зробити, – Тупицький пояснив, чому не задекларував землю у Криму". 24 канал (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  36. ↑ "ДБР повідомило про підозру Тупицькому". РБК-Україна (in Russian). Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  37. ↑ "Підозрюваний суддя Конституційного Суду України та його Голова порушує норми КПК України". Державне бюро розслідувань (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  38. ↑ "ДБР відкрило на Тупицького справу про самоправство". РБК-Україна (in Russian). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  39. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (26 March 2021). "Голова НАЗК склав протокол щодо Тупицького за скасування засідання КСУ". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  40. ↑ "Глава НАЗК склав протокол щодо Тупицького. Він скасував засідання КСУ у своїх інтересах". РБК-Україна (in Russian). Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  41. ↑ "Голова НАЗК склав протокол щодо Олександра Тупицького, який скасував засідання КСУ, на якому мали розглядати звернення ДБР про вчинення ним проступку". Національне агентство з питань запобігання корупції (in Ukrainian). 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  42. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (July 2021). "У ДБР перевіряють Тупицького на причетність до ще двох кримінальних злочинів". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  43. ↑ "Ще одну справу щодо Тупицького направлено до суду, - ДБР". РБК-Украина (in Russian). Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  44. ↑ Цензор.НЕТ. "Глава КС Тупицький відпочиває на королівській віллі в Дубаї. ФОТОрепортаж". Цензор.нет (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  45. ↑ "Спростування недостовірної інформації | Конституційний Суд України". www.ccu.gov.ua. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  46. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (15 January 2021). "У КСУ розповіли, скільки голова суду Тупицький заробив за 2020 рік". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
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