MP Serhii Vlasenko said that the temporary investigative commission (TIC) of the Verkhovna Rada has established that the foundation of the executive director of the NGO "DE JURE Foundation" of Mykhailo Zhernakov controls the second composition of the Public Integrity Council for the selection of judges.
Vlasenko announced this on Facebook, Ukrainian News Agency reports.
The TIC meeting was held on December 10. At the meeting, Mykhailo Zhernakov was questioned as a witness, who, according to the MP, made repeated attempts to evade participation in the TIC meeting.
Zhernakov was appointed a judge of Ukraine by president Yanukovych. During the Euromaidan, as a judge, he overturned the decision of the Khmelnytskyi City Council in support of the Revolution of Dignity. With the beginning of lustration, he resigned and founded the "DE JURE".
On December 10, 2025, the TIC considered accusations of Zhernakov from his colleagues in the public sector of influencing the 3rd composition of the Public Integrity Council, abusing international aid funds on his part, interfering in the process of electing the 4th composition of the Public Integrity Council, etc.
The TIC members found out how it happened that all participants in the meetings to elect members of the Public Integrity Council were given lists with notes about who to vote for and who not to vote for. As a result of such elections, Zhernakov's "foundation" gained control over 13 of the 19 elected members of the Public Integrity Council.
The formed Public Integrity Council assesses the "integrity" of all candidates for judges. And, if the conclusion of the Public Integrity Council is negative, then it is extremely difficult to overcome it and the person cannot continue to be a judge.
"Therefore, these people (members of the Public Integrity Council) have a strong influence on the composition of the judicial corps that you and I, as citizens of Ukraine, receive. And in order to independently assess the "integrity" of candidates for judges, these members of the Public Integrity Council must be independent, professional and impartial," Vlasenko wrote.
The TIC found out that Zhernakov paid money from the accounts of "DE JURE" to some members of the Public Integrity Council 3.0 for "work related to the activities of the Public Integrity Council" (although according to the law, this is public, unpaid work). "He did not pay money to everyone, but selectively. He did not explain who and how he chose to pay. He considers this normal," Vlasenko added.
The TIC also clarified that Zhernakov paid money from the accounts of "DE JURE" to some members of the Public Integrity Council 4.0 for "work related to the activities of the Public Integrity Council" (although according to the law, this is public, unpaid work).
At the same time, according to the MP, Zhernakov could not explain how he selected the candidates that his "foundation" and other NGOs introduced into the Public Integrity Council.
"Zhernakov confirmed that all lists of candidates were agreed in advance. And that there were lists with previously marked surnames for which one should vote. He considers this normal. He confirmed that he had received a grant in advance to form the Public Integrity Council secretariat, but did not use it in time ("blackmail" with this money was one of the accusations from his colleagues). He confirmed that three interconnected GOs - all of their leaders are members of the governing bodies of the "DE JURE Foundation" (out of 12 that participated in the "elections"), together recruited 13 members of the Public Integrity Council out of 19, of whom "DE Jure" "directly" recruited 7 members. He confirmed that he transferred funds from partners' assistance to his own FOP [individual entrepreneur - ed.], being the executive director of "DE Jure". True, at first he said that he did not do this, but after some time he changed his position," Vlasenko said.
At the same time, as the MP noted, Zhernakov could not answer the question of whether the courts have started to work better in recent years. Zhernakov also confirmed that he initiated a memorandum with the Public Integrity Council, which creates an exclusive status for the "foundation" in relations with the Public Integrity Council. The memorandum was signed by 13 members of the Public Integrity Council. Vlasenko added that 9 of them received money from Zhernakov.
Zhernakov also noted that all this is purely their internal matter.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the DeJure Foundation denied rumors about the company's lack of reporting and improper use of donor funds.
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