‘Absolutely unacceptable’ — Appointment of Ukrainian judge who visited occupied Crimea, Russia triggers criticism
The decision highlights the continued presence of officials with ties to Russia in the Ukrainian government.
Judicial Reform
Constitutional Court contest not ideal but praised as fair and transparent
Ukraine faces yet another test in its efforts to meet conditions for joining the European Union – the creation of a credible and trustworthy Constitutional Court. The ongoing selection of new Constitutional Court judges under new rules is in its final stages – the judges have already been chosen and need to
Ukraine's judicial reform relaunch shows mixed results so far
In late 2023, Ukraine finally re-launched the process of vetting judges as part of a long anticipated judicial reform – a key condition for Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Four months later, the results are mixed. On the one hand, the High Qualification Commission, a top judicial body, has approved
Intelligence service claims top judicial official has Russian citizenship; he denies it, cites pressure
Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service has alleged that Roman Ihnatov, head of the High Qualification Commission, a key agency in Ukraine's judicial system, has Russian citizenship. Ihnatov, who worked as an investigator in Russia in the 1990s and was required by the law to be a Russian citizen at the time,
Judicial reform in limbo as only few tainted judges are fired or convicted
On the tenth anniversary of the pro-Western EuroMaidan Revolution, the Ukrainian parliament approved the first reading of a bill that effectively destroys one of the key tools of the ongoing judicial reform, the Public Integrity Council. The council is an independent civil society watchdog that assesses the integrity of judges
Watchdogs: Parliament moves to destroy key pillar of judicial reform
The Ukrainian parliament on Nov. 21 approved the first reading of a bill that effectively destroys a key pillar of judicial reform, the Public Integrity Council, according to civic watchdogs. The Public Integrity Council, an independent civil society watchdog, assesses the integrity of judges and plays a key role in
This Week in Ukraine Ep. 10 – Corruption in Ukraine, and where reforms fall short
Episode #10 of our weekly video podcast “This Week in Ukraine” is dedicated to corruption inside Ukraine's judicial system, and how the government has tried to implement reforms to fight it.
Judicial reform formally completed as second top judicial body is appointed
All 16 members of the High Qualification Commission, a judicial body that vets and nominates candidates for judicial jobs, have been appointed now. The final selection was made on June 1 by the High Council of Justice, the judiciary's main governing body. The council, which makes final decisions on hiring,
Ukraine’s judicial reform has mixed reviews as it nears key point
As Ukraine is fighting Russia on the front lines, a much quieter battle is happening in the government offices in Kyiv: the fight to bring the long-suffering judicial reform to life. Compared to the war, almost no one is watching this contest. And yet it’s this battle that will
Zelensky signs judicial bill that may block European integration, undermine Western support
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 20 signed into law a bill on the Constitutional Court that may derail Ukraine’s European integration. The bill regulates the selection of Constitutional Court judges. It has been criticized by Ukraine’s civil society and the West because it fails to give foreign experts
Zelensky signs law to liquidate Ukraine's most notorious court
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 13 signed into law a bill to liquidate the Kyiv District Administrative Court, headed by Ukraine's most scandalous judge Pavlo Vovk. Earlier on the same day, the bill was approved by parliament. The move follows a decision by the U.S. Department of State on
Supreme Court fails to dismiss deputy chairman with Russian passport
The commercial chamber of Ukraine's Supreme Court on Oct. 3 failed to gather enough votes to fire the chamber's Chairman Bohdan Lvov. Days prior, Ukraine's Security Service confirmed that Lvov is a Russian citizen, which he continues to deny. Under Ukrainian law, foreign citizens are banned from holding government jobs.
Parliament appoints anti-corruption crusader to top judicial body amid botched reform
After the ongoing judicial reform was marred by several scandals, the Verkhovna Rada on Aug. 15 appointed Roman Maselko, a lawyer and well-known anti-corruption crusader, to the judiciary's main body – the High Council of Justice. The parliament also supported the candidacy of law professor Mykola Moroz, who meets the high
Investigative journalists: Judge supported by Western experts may be implicated in corruption
A controversial judge greenlighted by the Ethics Council, the main body tasked with spearheading judicial reforms, may be involved in corruption, according to an investigation by the Slidstvo.info investigative journalism project. The Ethics Council, which is comprised of both Ukrainian judges and Western experts, has come under fire for
Oleg Sukhov: Ukrainian kleptocrats use war to entrench corruption, with Western experts as facade
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors. Oleg Sukhov is a staff writer at the Kyiv Independent. He has been covering the judicial corruption and judicial reforms in Ukraine since 2014. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was a wake-up call for
Most members of main judicial body to resign over reform
According to experts, the resignation will allow tainted members of the High Council of Justice to evade responsibility for wrongdoings.
Tainted top judicial officials resign ahead of reform
The High Council of Justice, the judiciary’s highest governing body, accepted the resignation of two of the council’s most controversial members on Jan. 20. The resignation of Oleksiy Malovatsky, acting head of the council, and Pavlo Grechkivsky will take effect on Jan. 26. They face numerous accusations of
Reform Watch: Judicial reform moves forward but corruption still reigns supreme
Ukraine has had mixed results with its rule of law reforms in recent weeks. On the one hand, a crucial judicial reform appears to be moving forward after years of delay. On the other hand, the success of that reform is far from guaranteed. Moreover, President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed
Civic watchdogs say Zelensky appoints 21 tainted judges
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 1 appointed 28 judges nominated by the High Council of Justice, the judiciary’s highest governing body. The appointments formally seek to resolve the problem of a shortage of judges. However, anti-corruption and legal watchdogs have lambasted the move because most of the judges have
(Updated: )
Most popular
Editors' Picks
Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Ukraine’s European partners can’t afford to watch and wait for Washington’s next move
Will Transnistria's gas crisis lead to its collapse and reintegration into Moldova?
The question isn't if China will turn on Russia, but when
