The High Council of Justice (HCJ) officially dismissed Yurii Drach from his position as a judge of the Korolyovskyi District Court of Zhytomyr on July 14, 2026. The ultimate disciplinary action follows an incident in which the magistrate explicitly refused to undergo a sobriety test after being pulled over by patrol police.
The incident occurred on the Zhytomyr–Chernivtsi highway when patrol officers pulled over an electric Tesla Model S driven by Judge Drach for traffic violations.
During the stop, officers noted clear signs of alcohol intoxication, including the smell of alcohol on his breath, impaired coordination, slurred speech, and erratic behavior. Police drafted an administrative report under Part 1 of Article 130 of the Code of Administrative Offences and offered the judge a sobriety check—either on-site using a certified breathalyzer or at a medical facility. Drach categorically refused both options.
«The judge’s refusal was deliberate and defiant. Such behavior was not an exercise of procedural rights, but a clear disregard for the law and an attempt to evade liability for an offense that poses a high public danger,» stated the HCJ Disciplinary Chamber.
On March 4, the Second Disciplinary Chamber of the HCJ initially recommended removing Drach from his post, citing a severe breach of judicial ethics and an abuse of status.
On July 14, the full High Council of Justice unanimously upheld those findings and issued the final decree stripping Yurii Drach of his judicial position.