KIEV - 14 November 2011. Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA) expressed its concern over the adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On Amending Certain Legislative Acts on Consideration of Cases by the Supreme Court of Ukraine”, which deprives citizens of their right to free access to court decisions, which they held under the Law of Ukraine “On Access to Court Decisions”. 

Thus the new Law entitles the Council of Judges of Ukraine in coordination with the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine to self-determine which information should be disclosed in the Uniform State Register of Court Decisions.

The UBA says, the Law contradicts the constitutional principles of justice set out in Article 129 of the Constitution of Ukraine, Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine “On Judicial System and Status of Judges” and the relevant articles of the procedural codes of Ukraine regarding publicity and openness of court proceedings and, consequently, can lead to corruption and abuse.