High Qualification Board Denies Reinstatement to Two Judges

The High Qualification Board of Judges of Russia (VKKS) at its meetings on 13 and 15 July considered the petitions of two former judges from the Volgograd Region — Andrei Kuznetsov and Rashad Gasan-ogly Nabiev. Both petitions concerned reinstatement after termination of powers by the regional qualification board. The VKKS refused to satisfy their requests; information about this was published on the board«s website.

Andrei Kuznetsov, who previously served as a judge of the Ilovlinsky District Court, was dismissed by the regional qualification board. The reason was his return of the case of municipal head Ivan Gel to the prosecutor at the stage of judicial pleadings. The Council of Judges of the Volgograd Region saw this as a disciplinary offense and appealed to the board, which stripped Kuznetsov of his powers and fifth qualification class. Disagreeing, the former judge filed a complaint with the VKKS, challenging both the disciplinary action and the penalty. On 13 July, the board rejected his complaint.

Rashad Gasan-ogly Nabiev, a former judge of the Kletsky District Court, was stripped of his judicial status on 26 April 2019. The Qualification Board of the Volgograd Region established that in addition to Russian citizenship, Nabiev also held citizenship of Azerbaijan, and he did not provide information on his income. In response, the former judge filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on 30 May demanding the decision be overturned. In addition, he sent a complaint to the VKKS regarding the non-extension of his powers as court president. At the meeting on 15 July, the VKKS considered four petitions from Nabiev for reconsideration of decisions based on newly discovered circumstances. As a result of the review, all petitions were either rejected or the proceedings were discontinued, which finally closed the possibility of Nabiev returning to the judicial position.

Thus, neither Kuznetsov nor Nabiev were able to achieve reinstatement through the VKKS.