A plan for judicial reform should be drawn up as soon as possible, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said.
"It is time to act, and I have initiated the formation of a joint council, so that we could together complete consideration of a plan for judicial reform and submit it to the highest legislative body – the Verkhovna Rada, which is to work out the laws," he said while opening a meeting of a working group on judicial reform in Kyiv on Thursday.
Yanukovych said that the existing judicial system is criticized by all, including Ukraine’s foreign partners.
According to the president, Ukraine has had no unified plan for reforming the judicial system due to the excessive politicization of the issue and thriving corruption over the past five years.
The head of state said Ukraine should seek the advice of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) while working on a plan for judicial reform.
The president assured those present that he would facilitate cooperation between the working group on judicial reform and the Venice Commission.
