Special Advisor to CoE Secretary General: Ukrainian judicial reform is unprecedented and long expected

The creation of new judicial institutions in Ukraine – the reformed Supreme Court and the High Anti-Corruption Court – is an outstanding result.

Regis Brillat, Special Advisor to Council of Europe's Secretary General for Ukraine, made a corresponding statement after the ceremony of taking the oath by judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court in Kyiv on April 11, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

According to Brillat, the changes in the judicial system of Ukraine, which have been achieved during the reform, absolutely meet the long-time demands of the society and expectation of the international partners.

“The Supreme Court works and it still has much work to do. However, a lot of very important things have already been done, for example, a ruling on the protection of the rights of internally displaced persons. The Council of Europe will continue to assist the Ukrainian authorities in implementing the changes in the system of justice,” the Special Advisor to Council of Europe's Secretary General for Ukraine said.

He also expressed hope that the newly-created anti-corruption court would start to work as soon as possible and appreciated the results of the cooperation of the Ukrainian side with the Public Council of international experts in the process of formation of the anti-corruption court.

Evaluating this process in whole, Brillat said that the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine had done high-quality work on the selection of judges of the anti-corruption court.

As reported, on March 18, the High Council of Justice ruled to submit to the President of Ukraine the recommendations on the appointment of 35 out of 39 judges to the positions in High Anti-Corruption Court, recommended for appointment by the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine. On March 28, the High Council of Justice added to this list two more judges for appointment to the High Anti-Corruption Court and one judge - to the Appeals Chamber of this court.

The solemn ceremony of taking the oath by judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine and the Appeals Chamber of this court took place on April 11.

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