Judge Formally Charged for Using Fake PhD Diploma to Illegally Collect Over 640,000 Hryvnias

Judge Accused of Fraudulent Pay Scheme

According to Главком: A judge from the Velykobereznyanskyi District Court in Zakarpattia Oblast, Petro Tarasevych, has been formally charged by the Office of the Prosecutor General with misappropriating state funds. The charges allege that, during the period of martial law, the judge fraudulently received a 15% salary bonus intended for those holding an advanced academic degree. To qualify for this extra pay, he submitted a Doctor of Philosophy in Law diploma issued by the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management.

An official verification determined that the diploma was not a legitimate document and does not confer a recognized academic degree in Ukraine. The Prosecutor General's Office stated that

"it has been established that the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management, in violation of legal requirements, introduced its own alternative system for certifying academic staff. It lacked the authority to independently establish procedures for preparing and awarding a Doctor of Philosophy degree, to create specialized academic councils, or to ensure their accreditation."

The fraudulent scheme lasted from April 2017 until October 2025, resulting in illegally obtained funds exceeding 640,000 hryvnias (approximately $15,500 USD). The judge has been served with a motion for a pre-trial restraint measure in the form of a personal commitment. This case highlights ongoing challenges with corruption within Ukrainian institutions, even as the country continues its defense against Russian aggression.

Separate Fraud Cases Target Prosecution System

In a related development, prosecutors from the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office have submitted an indictment to court concerning a 62-year-old resident of Dnipro. The individual is accused of fraudulently promising jobs within the prosecution service for large bribes. He allegedly offered positions in the Office of the Prosecutor General and a district prosecutor's office in Kyiv for fees of 25,000 euros and 25,000 US dollars, respectively.

The accused claimed to have connections with senior officials at the Prosecutor General's Office, promising that applicants would receive a job offer directly from the prosecution service after the payment was made. His scheme was uncovered in July 2025 following a transfer of money to a specified cryptocurrency wallet.

In another incident, the State Bureau of Investigations and the National Police detained a Kyiv resident who attempted to fraudulently obtain 100,000 US dollars. During the arrest, 50,000 dollars in marked funds were transferred to him. The victim in this case was identified as the head of a department at a regional territorial recruitment and social support center in one of Ukraine's western oblasts.

These incidents collectively point to persistent issues of corruption and fraud within Ukraine, exacerbated by the conditions of war. They underscore the critical role of law enforcement in detecting and investigating such crimes, demonstrating state efforts to combat graft. The cases also reveal a pressing need for rigorous verification of the credentials held by individuals in positions of authority within the judiciary and state administration.

This recent case is not an isolated incident, as the judiciary faces ongoing scrutiny over corruption issues. In a related story, authorities are investigating another fraudulent scheme involving a man accused of selling prosecutor positions for cryptocurrency. Such cases underscore the alarming trends within Ukraine's legal system, highlighting the urgent need for reform. For more details on this troubling situation, read about the alleged sale of prosecutor jobs.