Former Sochi Judge Sluka Indicted on 14 Counts

As part of the investigation of the criminal case, opened by the chairman of the ICR Alexander Bastrykin, the investigators of the ICR for Krasnodar Krai have charged 66-year-old former judge of the Central District Court of Sochi, Valery Sluka, with 7 counts of abuse of power and 7 counts of issuing deliberately unjust rulings (Part 2 of Article 286 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Part 1 of Article 305 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). This was reported by the ICR Information Center.

According to the investigation, from June 23, 2021 to July 8, 2022, Judge Sluka, exceeding his official authority, in violation of territorial jurisdiction, unjustifiably accepted civil lawsuits. Without actual consideration, examination of evidence, and without involving representatives of the defendant and interested parties, he issued seven deliberately unjust rulings, resulting in the illegal removal of land plots in Sochi from municipal ownership.

The appellate court overturned the judge«s rulings and issued new decisions rejecting the claims — the land plots were returned to municipal ownership.

Operational support for the criminal case is provided by officers of the FSB Directorate for Krasnodar Krai, the Main Directorate for Economic Security and Combating Corruption (GUEBiPK) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, and the Economic Security and Combating Corruption Directorate (UEBiPK) of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the region.

Recall that at the request of the investigator, the court placed the accused in custody for two months.

Searches were also conducted at Sluka«s homes in Krasnodar Krai and North Ossetia. Items and documents relevant to the investigation were seized. A set of necessary investigative actions aimed at collecting and consolidating the evidence base continues.