08.02.2013

UN names three weak points in Ukrainian court system

The issue of reform of Ukraine’s judicial system is topical both within Ukraine and beyond. Judicial independence was one of the most frequently mentioned during Ukraine’s Universal Periodic Review in Geneva in October 2012. Member states gave Ukraine more than 20 recommendations on improving the situation in this sphere.

28.12.2012

Justice in the Balance

Two men have finally been released from custody after six years in SIZO on the basis of a “confession” beaten out of one of them and despite howling discrepancies and infringements of their right to defence.

18.04.2012

The Future of the European Court of Human Rights: A View from Ukraine

Ministers from the 47-members of the Council of Europe are in Brighton, England this week to discuss the future of the European Court of Human Rights. Let us hope that amid the clamor of Britain's own internal debates over the role of the court, and Britain's wider role in Europe, the delegates can still hear the voice of those in countries such as Ukraine, who really do so often pin their last hopes for justice on the court in Strasbourg.

28.02.2012

Lutsenko Verdict still further dismantles the rule of law in Ukraine

On 27 February 2010 the Pechersky District Court in Kyiv sentenced former Internal Affairs Minister Yury Lutsenko to four years imprisonment.

15.02.2012

Human rights monitors slam Prosecutor’s demand in Lutsenko case

The Association of Ukrainian Human Rights Monitors on Law Enforcement have criticized the call on Tuesday from the Prosecutor for former Minister of Internal Affairs, Yury Lutsenko to receive a lengthy prison sentence.

30.01.2012

Accounting Chamber finds loss of independence for Ukrainian judges

The Accounting Chamber of Ukraine has carried out an audit of the system for planning judges and found that existing normative legal documents are equivocal, precluding a single interpretation. This results in discrepancies as far as judges’ pay is concerned, and therefore the constitutional guarantees for their independence are lost.

27.01.2012

Constitutional Carte Blanche for Corruption and Censorship

Ukraine’s Constitutional Court has passed a real gem of a judgement – one of inestimable value to corrupt officials precisely because the value of their family’s wealth may now not be disclosed.

26.01.2012

Ivashchenko’s right to equality of arms flagrantly violated

The lawyer representing former Acting Defence Minister in Yulia Tymoshenko’s government, Valery Ivashchenko has condemned the court’s reading out of testimony given by witnesses at pre-trial investigation level.

26.01.2012

Judge Vovk simply reads out testimony given earlier in Lutsenko trial

On 24 January Judge Vovka began reading out the testimony of more than 30 witnesses in the prosecution of former Minister of Internal Affairs, Yury Lutsenko. He read out the list of names saying that those people had written statements saying that they could not appear in court and asking for testimony given at pre-trial investigation stage to be read out. Among them are former Deputy Prosecutor General Mykola Holomsha who also figures in an episode in the case over Viktor Yushchenko’s poisoning.

24.01.2012

Forward to juries, or back to people’s assessors?

The draft Criminal Procedure Code which the President has submitted for parliament’s consideration envisages the appearance of jury assessors. The government claims that this is the first step towards creating a jury system in Ukraine. Experts are critical, predicting a return to the Soviet model of people’s assessors.

13.01.2012

Ihor Indylo’s family will not accept the court rulings

Oleksandr Zarutsky, lawyer representing the parents of Ihor Indylo, the student who died on the eve of his twentieth birthday in police custody has lodged three appeals. The first is against the amnesty passed on Serhiy Kovalenko, the police officer on duty the night that Ihor Indylo was brought in..

19.12.2011

Danish Helsinki Committee slates politically motivated prosecutions in Ukraine

A press conference was given late last week by Mikael Lyngbo, author of Legal Monitoring Reports for the Danish Helsinki Committee on Human Rights, both on the prosecution and conviction of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and on the prosecutions of Yulia Tymoshenko; Yury Lutsenko; Valery Ivashchenko and Yevhen Korniychuk.

12.12.2011

Travelling Court Stunt in Tymoshenko prosecution

A “court hearing” took place on Thursday to consider an application from the SBU [Security Service] investigators to remand former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in custody.

29.11.2011

Candidates for judge first succeed and then get removed from the running

People seeking the right to hold the position of judge have complained that the procedure is not transparent and that candidates can be removed on subjective grounds. They reject the assertions of public officials that the new system is unbiased. The system is also criticized by some independent specialists.

18.11.2011

New attempts to put pressure on judges

The Strategic Litigations Centre has learned of new attempts by a Prosecutor’s Office to exert pressure on judges. In this case the target of the Kirovohrad Prosecutor’s Office is Judge Roman Brehei who in April 2011 issued two acquittals. In one case he acquitted a person accused of attempted robbery with violence, in the other – a person charged with the manufacture and possession of illicit drugs.

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