The Supreme Court received an ECHR delegation for the first time in 15 years

A landmark meeting took place at the Supreme Court — a delegation from the European Court of Human Rights, headed by its President Matthias Guillaumar, visited the Ukrainian judicial institution. The visit was the first of its kind in the last 15 years and symbolizes the deepening of cooperation between the national and European justice systems.

A symbol of support and trust

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Stanislav Kravchenko, emphasized that this visit is not only a manifestation of international solidarity, but also a confirmation of a sustainable partnership:

“The practice of the ECHR has become a reference point and a catalyst for systemic changes in Ukraine, which is of fundamental importance for the development of justice.”

He recalled that the previous visit of the head of the ECHR took place back in 2011, when the Court was headed by Jean-Paul Costa. Since then, the Ukrainian judicial system has undergone a profound transformation — from the renewal of institutions to the establishment of the principles of judicial independence.

Cooperation tools

One of the important results of the cooperation was the introduction of the Ukrainian version of the ECHR Knowledge Sharing Platform, which is already actively used by judges, lawyers and academics.

The President of the ECHR, Matthias Guillaumar, emphasized that direct dialogue with national courts is key to the effective protection of human rights, especially in the context of the principle of subsidiarity.

He paid special attention to the mechanism of advisory requests provided for by Protocol No. 16 to the Convention, noting that the appeals of the Ukrainian Supreme Court are important not only for Ukraine, but also for other European states.

Justice in times of war

Despite the difficult conditions caused by the war, Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to ensure the effective operation of the judicial system and compliance with human rights standards.

Judge of the ECHR, Mykola Hnatovsky, emphasized the importance of strengthening national mechanisms for the protection of rights, and representatives of the Court noted Ukraine’s progress in implementing European standards.

The European course is irreversible

The participants of the meeting agreed that the further development of the Ukrainian judicial system should take place in close cooperation with European institutions and taking into account the practice of the ECHR.

This visit was not only a diplomatic event, but also a clear signal: Ukraine continues to move towards strengthening the rule of law and integration into the European legal space.