The fight against corruption and the process of European integration are inextricably linked, and Ukraine should not rest on its laurels - SC President

Russia's open invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 changed the world, and then, against the backdrop of a large-scale war, it seemed that the problem of corruption would be a thing of the past. Unfortunately, this has not been the case, and the need to effectively combat the phenomenon has only increased. Victory in the war is undoubtedly the most important goal of our country, but it is impossible to achieve this goal without a proper and effective solution to the problem of corruption.

This was emphasised by the President of the Supreme Court Stanislav Kravchenko at the event "International Anti-Corruption Day - from Euromaidan to European Integration".

According to the President of the Supreme Court, the last ten years have been very difficult indeed, including for the judicial system, as all the reforms that took place during this period were actually implemented in the context of war. Nevertheless, Ukraine has managed to create a system of anti-corruption bodies, and the practice has shown its effectiveness.

Following the establishment of the High Anti-Corruption Court, the Supreme Court also introduced a relevant specialisation. The Supreme Court is tasked not only with cassation review of criminal proceedings for corruption offences, but also with ensuring the uniformity of case law in this category of cases. 

At the same time, not all problematic issues can be resolved at the level of case law. In this context, the SC President noted the parliament's effective response to the challenges posed by the need to improve substantive and procedural legislation.  

According to Stanislav Kravchenko, the issues of combating corruption and the process of European integration are inextricably linked, and Ukraine should not rest on its laurels. The judicial system clearly understands its tasks in this regard and, despite the extremely difficult conditions, continues to consistently take the necessary steps, counting on the support of not only the Parliament and the Government, but also the entire Ukrainian society.