NGOs dealing with judicial and anti-corruption reforms condemn the decision of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights on the dismissal of Andrii Kozlov, a member of the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ), and urge the President and the future parliament to raise the issue of reforming the composition of the judiciary bodies.

On June 27, the media reported that the Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denysova dismissed Andrii Kozlov, a member of the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ, Commission), appointed by the ombudsman’s quota in October 2016 for a term of 4 years.

The dismissal took place right after Andrii Kozlov publicly disclosed that voting for overcoming the negative opinion of the Public Integrity Council (PIC) regarding the judge who was involved in persecuting Euromaidan activists from the Administrative Court of Appeal of Kyiv, Inna Hryban, was falsified by the HQCJ. On June 12, a decision in support of this judge did not get the required 11 votes to overcome such a negative opinion, which automatically means the submission of her dismissal. Instead, the Commission members announced a break, which delayed the resolution of this issue. Andrii Kozlov left the meeting of the Commission in protest. Subsequently, in his posts in the social media and comments to journalists criticized the qualification evaluation procedure and his colleagues’ attempts to leave questionable judges, even where there is indisputable evidence of bad faith.

NGOs dealing with judicial and anti-corruption reform condemn the decision of the Commissioner on Andrii Kozlov’s dismissal. The real reason behind his dismissal is the removal of independent members of the HQCJ with a principled position on the evaluation of malicious judges.

In the three years since the launch of the judicial reform, the HQCJ has demonstrated its unwillingness to carry out a genuine clearing of the judicial system. As a result of the qualification evaluation of more than 2,700 judges, a mere 16 judges were dismissed due to non-compliance with the office. 45 judges with negative opinions from the Public Integrity Council are now in the new Supreme Court.

It became apparent that one independent member of the Commission was not able to influence the situation, while after a public demonstration of his position, he became a victim of political pressure.

We call on the President of Ukraine and the future Parliament to raise the issue of reforming the composition of the judiciary bodies (the High Qualification Commission of Judges and the High Council of Justice) as soon as possible ensuring that at least half of the public experts are their members and ensuring the engagement of international experts in the selection of members; also, to introduce a mechanism for reviewing unlawful and unjustified decisions of the HQCJ regarding the positive evaluation of malicious judges.

Automaidan All-Ukrainian Association

Centre UA NGO

Donbas SOS NGO

NGO “Institute of Legislative Ideas”

Media Initiative on Human Rights

Anti-Corruption Researh and Educational Center (ACREC)

Transparency International Ukraine

CHESNO Movement

DEJURE Foundation

Centre of Policy and Legal Reform

Anti-Corruption Action Center

Human Rights Center ZMINA

Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law

Center for Civil Liberties

StateWatch