On May 14, for the first time in the history of independent Ukraine, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine dismissed from office its Chairman. Julia Kyrychenko analysed the latest constitutional news in Ukraine for BlogActiv.

The CPLR Constitutional law project manager  Yulia Kyrychenko participated in a public discussion ‘Judiciary reform in effect: what changes should citizens, judges and lawyers wait for?’ in Dnipro city on December 27-28, 2016

The discussion was conducted on the 10-th of July in 2017

Head of the CPLR Board Ihor Koliushko become a member of newly created the Coordination Board for assistance in development of civil society. By the Presidential edict from November 4 of 2016 the Coordination Board has been advisory and consultative body of the President

The signatory organizations of this statement urge the MPs of all factions to use the last opportunity and adopt amendments to the electoral legislation or assume political responsibility for the failure of the reform. We emphasize the need to renew dialogue with the non-governmental expert environment on changes in this area

Only candidates from three parliamentary factions were allowed to participate in the competitive selection for two positions of judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine under the quota of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

The continued application of the undemocratic law which does not conform with Ukraine’s Constitution, poses a serious threat to democracy in Ukraine. Public authorities have failed to take actions on this key reform over the past year. For tangible progress to be made in the sphere, the following recommendations, stemming from the 2016 Save Referendum Forum’s Statement, must be considered and prioritized

 The CPLR and RPR call on the competition commission to disclose December 19: List of persons recommended for the position of a judge of the CCU; Resolution of the competition commission on the refusal to allow six candidates to participate; Information on the procedure for assessing the candidate’s compliance with the constitutional requirements for a candidate for the CCU judge position, first of all with respect to high moral qualities and a requirement to be a recognized lawyer

On November 7, 2017, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted for the adoption of the draft Election Code of Ukraine (No. 3112-1) in first reading. Draft of Electoral code № 3112-1 introduces a proportional electoral system with open lists, which is a positive step. At the same time, the draft of Electoral code needs to be finalized in terms of the status of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, electoral rights of internally displaced persons, election procedures at local elections, reporting of political parties, etc

In June 2016, the constitutional reform in the area of justice took place in Ukraine, part of which was reforming the status of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine aimed at ensuring its independence. Politically motivated decisions of the Constitutional Court under the Yanukovych regime, notably the unconstitutional change of the Constitution in September of 2010, clearly highlighted the problem of dependence of constitutional justice in Ukraine