Ukraine hits another roadblock in its fight to reform the courts
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Ukraine has tried, repeatedly, to clean up its courts — each attempt, however, has run into the same roadblocks. A handful of controversial judges have been dismissed, and some changes have been enacted. But beneath the surface, a powerful clique is digging in its heels, making sure attempts at changing
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Ukraine hits another roadblock in its fight to reform the courts by Oleg Sukhov March 23, 2026 8:02 PM 10 min read Judges of the Supreme Court of Ukraine sign documents before voting to remove court head Vsevolod Kniaziev during a session in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 16, 2023. (Sergei Supinsky / AFP / Getty Images) Politics Prefer on Google by Oleg Sukhov Ukraine has tried, repeatedly, to clean up its courts — each attempt, however, has run into the same roadblocks. A handful of controversial judges have been dismissed, and some changes have been enacted. But beneath the surface, a powerful clique is digging in its heels, making sure attempts at changing the system are stalled. The latest reform cycle began in 2022, when the judiciary's two highest bodies — the High Council of Justice and the High Qualification Commission — were re-launched. Out of the judges recommended for dismissal since 2022, only 25% have been actually fired. And even them have a good chance to be reinstated by the Supreme Court . Become a member – go ad‑free The consequences are mounting: stalled reforms are now undermining Ukraine’s EU ambitions . Authorities have shown little urgency in adopting the European Commission’s recommendations on judicial reform. "Initially there was some progress," Mykhailo Zhernakov, head of judicial watchdog Dejure, told the Kyiv Independent. "But the authorities realized soon that it is not beneficial for them and have been dismantling the reforms ever since." He said that the reform failures are blocking Ukraine's European integration and preventing Kyiv from accessing financial aid under the EU's Ukraine Facility program. The President's Office, the Supreme Court and the High Council of Justice did not respond to requests for comment. Become a member – go ad‑free read also Questionable vetting To identify tainted judges, the Ukrainian government has created the Public Integrity Council , an independent watchdog that consists of civil society representatives. The ...
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