The Kyiv District Court has sentenced former Makaryv district judge Alexey Tandyr to nine years in prison for causing a fatal traffic accident while under the influence of alcohol. The prosecution initially sought a ten-year sentence for Tandyr, who is accused of being involved in a collision that resulted in the death of a National Guard soldier.
The incident occurred on the night of May 26, 2023, when the soldier was returning to a checkpoint after setting up engineering barriers. Reports indicate that Tandyr, driving a Lexus at high speed, struck the soldier. An expert analysis revealed that Tandyr attempted to brake only right before the collision, despite clear signage requiring earlier action.
During the proceedings, Tandyr, using his legal expertise, allegedly refused to undergo sobriety testing and attempted to falsify biological samples by substituting them with water and saliva, according to the prosecution. The trial began in September 2023, and the court faced numerous delays, with over 50 hearings postponed due to motions from the defense, which also filed more than 30 challenges against both the judge and the prosecutor.
Moreover, Tandyr attempted to secure his release from custody by claiming mobilization, a request which was denied by the court. He was convicted under Article 286-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for violating traffic safety rules while intoxicated, resulting in death. Tandyr is currently in custody and plans to appeal the verdict, according to his lawyer Oleg Yurchenko.
Yurchenko emphasized that the case should be judged based on the law rather than public sentiment, expressing determination to appeal to higher courts for a review of the case’s legality.
