Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Yurii Baulin met the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission

PRESS-SERVICE

of CONSTITUTIONAL COURT of UKRAINE

 

01033, Kyiv, Zhilyanska, 14

tel. 238-10-80, 238-11-38

fax. 287-36-16

 

 

Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Yurii Baulin met the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission

 

The Constitutional Court of Ukraine will execute tasks assigned to the sole body of the constitutional jurisdiction by the Constitution and legislation of Ukraine, stated the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Yurii Baulin on April 9, 2014 during the meeting with the representatives of the OSCE/ODIHRElection Observation Mission held at the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.

On the request of the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Tana de Zulueta the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine informed about the situation with the judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in view of the adoption on February 24, 2014 of the Resolution by theVerkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the dismissal of five judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, appointed by the quota of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Instead there were appointed four new judges and today they are performing their duties at the Court. “We are sure that in its current composition the Court will execute tasks, envisaged by the Constitution of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine“On the Constitutional Court of Ukraine”, said the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.

Meeting with the representatives of the Mission was in line with the long-standing tradition of communication of Ukrainian constitutionalists and OSCE/ODIHR election experts on the eve of the presidential and parliamentary elections launched back in 1999. The Constitutional Court of Ukraine pays great attention to the conclusions made by the OSCE regarding the democratic running of elections and observance of the constitutional rights of voters, admitted Yurii Baulin.

Tana de Zulueta, in her turn, stressed on the important role of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine as one of the key state institutions which is the guarantor of democratic processes in the state. The guests were interested in decisions taken by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, in particular the adoption of the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada “On the Text of the Constitution of Ukraine of June 28, 1996 as amended by the Laws of December 8, 2004 №2222-IV, February 1, 2011 №2952-IV, September 19, 2013 №586-V”, amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Election of President of Ukraine”, and the adoption on April 8, 2014 of the Law of Ukraine “On Restoring Confidence in the Judicial System of Ukraine”.

Yurii Baulin stated that significant changes had occurred in the constitutional and legal regulation of the country, which, were, first of all, connected with the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on restoring the Constitution of Ukraine in the wording of the law of December 8, 2004 No.2222. Given this, the Court is guided in its activity by the Fundamental Law of Ukraine that is effective today.

As regards the amendments to the law on presidential elections in Ukraine Yurii Baulin noted that there had been no constitutional petitions to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine submitted on the constitutionality of the new wording of the law, so the electoral process should take place in accordance with its current requirements, transparently and democratically.

Judges Mykola Melnyk and Stanislav Shevchuk also shared their views with the OSCE experts. In particular, referring to the recent changes in the composition in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, Judge Shevchuk noted a positive increase in a number of judges with profound academic experiencewhich is in line with the current trends inherent in bodies of the European constitutional justice.

Judge Melnyk, in his turn, briefly analysed possible consequences of adoption of the law on Restoring Confidence in the Judicial System of Ukraine. In his opinion, the mentioned act is intended to bring a number of positive changes, such as the providing the complete renewal of bodies that form the judicial corps. In general, this law created conditions to restore confidence of the society to the domestic judicial proceedings.

In conclusion, Yurii Baulin wished success to the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission while working in Ukraine and expressed his hope that presidential elections would be held in accordance with the international democratic standards. Tana de Zulueta thanked the Chairman and judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine for understanding issues which are a matter of concern for the European side and the possibility to discuss legal processes occurring in Ukraine.