Bastrykin Initiates Criminal Case Against Sochi Judge Removed from Bench

Valery Sluka, a judge in Sochi, is suspected of issuing seven unlawful rulings, prompting a criminal investigation by Alexander Bastrykin.

Feb 23, 2026

A Telegram channel post displays documents from the investigation into the judge«s alleged misconduct.
Source:
sud_kas_4/t.me

Alexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, with the consent of the Supreme Qualification Board of Judges of the Russian Federation, has initiated a criminal case on seven episodes of crimes under Part 2 of Article 286 and Part 1 of Article 305 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (abuse of official powers and rendering knowingly unjust decisions) against Valery Sluka, a judge of the Central District Court of Sochi, whose powers were terminated early.

According to the investigation, from June 23, 2021 to July 2022, Judge Sluka, abusing his official powers, in violation of territorial jurisdiction, unreasonably accepted civil lawsuits for proceedings. Without actual consideration, examination of evidence, and without involving representatives of the defendant and interested parties, he issued seven knowingly unjust decisions that led to the illegal seizure of land plots in the city of Sochi from municipal ownership, the press service of the Investigative Committee reports.

In the appellate instance, Sluka«s decisions were overturned, and the land was returned to municipal ownership. Investigative actions are being carried out in the criminal case aimed at establishing all the circumstances of the crimes committed and securing the evidence base.

Recall that in February 2023, the qualification board of judges of the Krasnodar Territory considered an appeal to bring Judge Valery Sluka of the Central District Court of Sochi to disciplinary responsibility. As a result of the consideration, a decision was made to terminate the judge«s powers early with the deprivation of the fourth qualification class.

The Council of Judges appealed to the qualification board after a comprehensive inspection was conducted, which found that Judge Sluka committed systematic and gross violations in the administration of justice. About two hundred decisions on illegal disposal of state and municipal lands, as well as on legalizing unauthorized constructions, were identified. Most of these decisions were made by judges Valery Sluka and Ruslan Taigibov. 120 court decisions were overturned as illegal in the appellate instance immediately, the rest—a little later.

According to the website Pravo.ru, in 2014, Valery Sluka was appointed deputy chairman of the Central District Court of Sochi. He became a judge in 2004, and in 2008 his powers were extended indefinitely.