The adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of the law, which provides for the reboot of the High Council of Justice (HCJ), will launch a real judicial reform in Ukraine, according to a statement posted on the website of the President’s Office on Wednesday.
According to the statement, relevant bill No. 5068, which was initiated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, provides for steps to ensure the independence of the judicial branch of government, namely the reboot of the HCJ, which is responsible for the selection and dismissal of judges. In the implementation of the judicial reform in Ukraine, the recommendations of Venice Commission’s experts, who provided their opinion on the draft law, were taken into account.
“This is without exaggeration a historic event for Ukraine. During the entire period of independence of our state, no government has carried out a real judicial reform giving nothing but promises. My goal is to restore trust and respect for the court. The servants of Themis will cease to be servants of the President, government, parliament or local authorities,” the President said.
Zelensky said that justice is one of the basic values of Ukrainians, but it cannot be ensured without an independent judiciary. In addition, domestic and foreign investors need a fair trial. The vote for the reform of the High Council of Justice laid the necessary foundation for effective changes in the judiciary.
