The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has rejected Ukraine's appeal against a court ruling on the case of Judge Oleksandr Volkov, meaning Ukraine must fulfill the court's ruling of January 9, 2013, to reinstate Volkov in office.
This decision was approved at a sitting of five judges of the ECHR’s Grand Chamber on May 27, the court told an Interfax-Ukraine reporter on Tuesday.
The court also ruled that Volkov be paid EUR 6,000 in compensation for moral damage, and EUR 12,000 to cover litigation costs.
In the ruling, the ECHR pointed to some problems in Ukraine’s system of justice and urged the government to urgently reform its system of judicial discipline.
The ECHR concluded that the Ukrainian authorities had violated four items of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights on the observation of the principles of fair legal proceedings, and Article 8 on the right to respect for private and family life.
In June 2010, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, decided to dismiss Volkov as a judge of the Supreme Court for breaking his oath. This decision was made following the conclusion of two members of the High Council of Justice of Ukraine that Volkov was guilty of serious procedural irregularities while revising a ruling of a judge who was his wife’s brother.
