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Human Rights in Ukraine Information website of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group |
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On 28 November the World Justice Project released its 2012 Rule of Law Index according to which Ukraine is in 87th place out of 97 countries 
Statement by the spokespersons of High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on the changes to the Law of the Prosecutor’s office in Ukraine 
No doubt, many of you have heard suggestions that there should be a "pause" in our relationship. But do the people of Ukraine really need a "pause" on new opportunities? I wonder myself: who is pausing? Ukraine on values? Or the European Union on the promises we made? 
During his visit to Kyiv on 10 September, Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe spoke of the need for “fresh look at the Ukrainian Criminal Code” in the light of the prosecution of Yulia Tymoshenko 
Ministers from the 47-members of the Council of Europe are meeting in Brighton this week to discuss the future of the European Court of Human Rights. Let’s hope that amid the clamor of Britain’s own internal debates over the role of the court, the delegates can still hear the voice of those in countries such as Ukraine, who really do so often pin their last hopes for justice on the court in Strasbourg. 
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recalls that it has "invited the Committee to propose any further action as required by the situation, including with regard to the possible consideration of sanctions if the Assembly’s demands are not met”. 
“Systemic deficiencies in the functioning of the Ukrainian judicial system seriously hinder the enjoyment of human rights. The authorities should take resolute steps to better address these problems” 
Marietta de Purba-Lundin, Co-Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Ukraine has explained the reasons for the clearly articulated warning of sanction if political prisoners are not freed 
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe spelled out a series of steps to increase the independence of the judiciary, reduce excessive detention on remand, and end the existing bias in favour of the prosecution. It also again called for constitutional reform, and further changes in Ukraine’s election law. 
Valeria Lutkovska, Government Representative on European Court of Human Rights matters speaks about the Judgement in the Case of Nechiporuk and Yonkalo v. Ukraine and the urgent need for an adequate means of reacting to cases of police torture 
The European Parliament deplores the conviction of Ukrainian former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko as a violation of human rights and an abuse of the judiciary designed to silence Ukraine’s leading opposition politician, in a resolution passed on Thursday. 
There is no justification for the unlawful existence of this SIZO which, according to commitments made to the Council of Europe before Ukraine joined, was de jure closed in 2003 
A key European Union summit with six ex-Soviet states was marred by a diplomatic showdown Friday after EU leaders called on Ukraine and Belarus to improve their human rights record 
With less than 6 months remaining for Ukraine to rectify systemic faults leading to abuse of remand in custody, the tale here of a Court of Appeal’s ruling finding detention unwarranted and the subsequent motion in the High Council of Justice to have all three judges dismissed, gives no grounds for optimism 
In an interview the Ambassador spoke of "things which, from the point of view of many EU representatives seem dubious. For example, we are concerned by the situation with prosecutions of opposition politicians. Such practice can lead to the bad habit that those who lose the elections end up in prison" 
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