Ukraine undertakes to complete the process of selection and appointment of new judges of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court (HCAC) and the Appeals Chamber of the ACCC by the end of September 2024, and by the end of October this year to adopt the updated Customs Code and amend the Criminal Procedure Code, which will balance the complex investigation criminal cases.
In published on the website of the IMF updated memorandum it is emphasized that Ukraine will continue the process of reforms, and, in particular, it offers two new structural guidelines.
“Amend the Criminal Procedure Code in order to balance the task of comprehensive investigation of criminal offenses and protection of the rights of parties to criminal proceedings, adopt the Customs Code in accordance with best practice (both by the end of October 2024),” the document reads.
The memorandum also states that the Public Council of International Experts will review candidates for 24 new vacancies in the Supreme Court of Justice in the first instance (15 vacancies) and appeals (nine vacancies), the Council’s mandate will be extended to complete the current process of selecting new judges.
The Ukrainian side assures that open and competitive selection for these new vacancies will be ensured, as well as the personnel and office needs of the new judges will be met.
“The final appointments to VAKS will be completed by the end of September,” the document states.
In addition, according to the text of the memorandum, in connection with the possibility of a negative impact on the effectiveness of the judicial system, the norms introduced into the legislation regarding the list of high-ranking officials will be adjusted as a new criterion for the decision-making by the panel.
Earlier, in May 2024, legislative changes were approved for the effectiveness of the VAKS work, which made it possible for one judge or a panel of judges to make decisions in corruption cases, depending on the severity of the punishment.
