International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) called on Ukrainian authorities before the UN Human Rights Council to refrain from any acts which interfere with the independence of the judiciary and annul the suspension of the Chairman of the Constitutional Court
On March 23, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine received an e-mail from the International Commission of Jurists, informing that on March 22, 2021, before the United Nations Human Rights Council, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) called on the Ukrainian authorities to ensure the security of lawyers and the independence of the judiciary. The Representative of the International Commission of Jurists to the UN, Massimo Frigo, addressed the President of the UN Human Rights Council, Mrs. Nazhat Shameem.
In particular, the ICJ calls on Ukraine to ensure prompt, thorough, impartial and independent investigations of all attacks on lawyers, leading where appropriate, to bringing those responsible to justice, as well as to refrain from any acts which interfere with the independence of the judiciary and annul the suspension of the Chairman of the Constitutional Court.
The text of the statement and video address of the ICJ Representative to the UN are available at: https://www.icj.org/at-un-icj-calls-on-ukraine-to-ensure.../.
The statement of the ICJ Representative to the UN Massimo Frigo reads as follows:
“Madame President,
In Ukraine, a number of lawyers, including those who defend human rights, in and outside of courts, including to face threats, harassment, and other attacks on their security.
Lawyers continue to be associated with their clients and may face detrimental consequences for representing them.
For example, in November 2020, lawyer Nikolay Osipchuk was physically attacked by the local Prosecutor and several other people in the court room of a district court. A pattern of such attacks was identified by the ICJ in a report issued last year.
The ICJ is further concerned at recent the attempts of interference by the Government with the independence of the judiciary in Ukraine.
The ICJ welcomes the withdrawal of the presidential draft law by which all judges of the Constitutional Court would have been dismissed. However, it is concerning that, following a criminal case initiated against him, the President of the Constitutional Court was suspended by a decision of the President of Ukraine. This decision, on dubious legal grounds, undermines the independence of the judiciary.
The ICJ urges that Ukraine:
Ensure prompt, thorough, impartial and independent investigations of all attacks on lawyers, leading where appropriate, to bringing those responsible to justice;
refrain from any acts which interfere with the independence of the judiciary and annul the suspension of the President of the Constitutional Court.
I thank you.”
