On December 05, 2025, a meeting of the Network of Ukrainian Experts was held in Strasbourg (French Republic) on the topic: “Execution of the European Court of Human Rights judgments – ensuring democratic security in Ukraine: achievements, challenges and perspectives”. The event was organised by the Council of Europe Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s membership in the Council of Europe.
Members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, Ihor Kushnir and Roman Sabodash, participated in the strategic discussion.
The meeting brought together representatives of the Council of Europe, judges of the European Court of Human Rights, the Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, the Supreme Court, the High Council of Justice, the Office of the Prosecutor General, members of parliament, academics, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, civil society and relevant Ukrainian institutions that play a key role in the implementation of ECtHR decisions at the national level.
The event was opened by Clare Ovey, Director of Human Rights of Directorate of Human Rights and Rule of Law of Council of Europe, Mykola Tochytskyi, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, and Mykola Gnatоvskyi, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Ukraine. The plenary session was moderated by Frederic Dolt, Head of the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.
The programme of the event included four thematic sessions, during which topical issues related to the enforcement of Strasbourg Court judgments were discussed.
The first session was devoted to assessing the progress made by Ukraine during three decades of membership in the Council of Europe. Particular attention was paid to the dynamics of change after the start of full-scale armed aggression. The discussion highlighted both achievements and systemic problems that remain unresolved and are being monitored by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
During the second session, participants considered a range of legal and organisational challenges that have arisen in connection with the state’s implementation of the Court’s decisions against the backdrop of the ongoing war against Ukraine. Participants emphasised that the aggression had led to significant changes in the functioning of the institutions responsible for implementing the Court’s decisions and had created additional obstacles to the proper fulfilment of the state’s international obligations. Separate attention was paid to problems related to the collection of evidence, the establishment of facts of violations, the identification of victims, and the payment of compensation, especially in the context of the temporary occupation of part of the territory. The discussion focused on supporting the effectiveness of the national mechanism for the execution of ECtHR judgments and ensuring compliance with human rights standards and the rule of law, including during emergencies.
During the third session, participants analysed cross-sectoral aspects of the enforcement of the Court’s judgments, covering a range of systemic issues that require a profound transformation of legal regulation and public administration. The discussion focused on groups of cases against Ukraine, namely: “Oleksandr Volkov”, “Lutsenko”, “Burmych” and “Sukachov”, which reflect key shortcomings in the independence of the judiciary, the organisation and functioning of the prosecution service, the effectiveness of criminal justice and the mechanisms for enforcing national court decisions. Participants emphasised the need to implement comprehensive reforms aimed at eliminating systemic violations, ensuring effective guarantees of the independence and integrity of judges, creating effective procedural tools to ensure fair trial and mechanisms for the enforcement of court decisions.
The fourth session focused on the prospects and ways to strengthen national mechanisms for the enforcement of ECtHR judgments. The discussion centred on the need to strengthen inter-agency coordination, improve the legislative framework, raise the professional level of lawyers, and the role of Council of Europe cooperation programmes in achieving sustainable results. Participants shared their vision for the further development of the Network of Ukrainian Experts as a platform for exchanging experience and forming strategic approaches to the enforcement of the Court’s judgments.
Given that a significant proportion of judgments against Ukraine concern violations related to the lack of effective judicial control, insufficient independence of judges, delays in court proceedings or non-enforcement of national court decisions, the involvement of Commission representatives in the event contributed to strengthening its institutional capacity and creating conditions for the introduction of new approaches to the selection and assessment of judges, which ensure the prevention of violations similar to those considered by the Court.
For reference: The Council of Europe Department for the Execution of the Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights Secretariat is a structural unit that oversees the execution by Council of Europe member states of judgments delivered by the ECtHR. The main function of the Department is to provide analytical, methodological and coordination support to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in monitoring the proper implementation of obligations by states in accordance with Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Department monitors the implementation of the Court’s judgments at the national level, provides advisory and technical assistance to states in overcoming the systemic problems underlying the violations identified, and promotes the development of the institutional capacity of the state bodies responsible for the execution of ECtHR judgments. The Department’s activities are aimed at ensuring the effectiveness of the human rights protection system within the Council of Europe and strengthening the rule of law on the European continent.
