The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine has officially launched its work on Thursday, April 11.
The HACC judges and those of the Appeals Chamber took an oath at the Supreme Court premises, an UNIAN correspondent reports.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, Chairman of the Supreme Court Yaroslav Romanyuk, Chairman of the High Council of Justice Ihor Benedysiuk, Head of the Higher Qualifications Commission of Judges Serhiy Koziakov, ambassadors of partner countries and members of the Council of International Experts attended the ceremony.
Read alsoUkraine's Rada adopts bill on establishing High Anti-Corruption Court
Petro Poroshenko called outstanding the day the HACC judges are being sworn in. “Thirty-eight new judges are taking up their duties in a completely new court,” said the head of state.
“There are different examples of the work of anti-corruption courts across the world – there are more and less effective cases. You have all the levers, all the tools to be successful, because judicial reform, for the first time in the history of Ukraine, gives you independence from both the legislative and executive branches of government, and the president as well,” Poroshenko said, addressing the judges.
According to the president, the HACC premises and funds for equipping them have already been allocated.
"I, as president, as well as the Ukrainian parliament, the Ukrainian government, and, most importantly, the Ukrainian people, are waiting for the start of your work," Poroshenko added.
Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Oleksiy Filatov read decrees on the appointment of judges to the High Anti-Corruption Court and the Appeals Chamber, after which the judges were sworn in.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the Verkhovna Rada on June 7, 2018, adopted the law, submitted by the president, on the High Anti-Corruption Court. The law establishes that the HACC is a permanently functioning specialized court, part of Ukraine's judiciary. Twenty-seven judges shall be appointed to the HACC and 12 – to the Appeals Chamber.
