“The Public Integrity Council demands to stop misleading society in public speeches of the President in regards that during the competition to the Supreme Court the position of society was taken into account as much as possible. The Public Integrity Council totally disagrees with this statement and considers that we were used to legitimize the needed result in the eyes of society and the international community,” the PIC said in an official statement.The representatives of the body expressed their deep concern because among the winners of the competition there are judges who banned peaceful assemblies during the Euromaidan Revolution, grossly violated fundamental human rights as recorded by the European Court of Human Rights, flouted decisions of the same court, submitted filled doubtful information in the declaration of integrity, could not explain their fortunes which were obviously disproportionate to their incomes, made politically motivated decisions, helped the judges who helped the government clamp down on Euromaidan activists evade responsibility etc. The activists also pointed out the secrecy of the ceremony of appointing the new judges, which goes to show that the organizers were afraid of the reaction of society regarding this event: “So they realize how little society trusts the competition,” said the activists adding that that society still has not received an explanation as to why the PIC’s opinions on the candidates' non-compliance with the criteria of integrity were rejected:
“So we consider the result of the new competition to the Supreme Court unfair and as one which does not correspond to the expectations of society about the refinement and renewal of the judiciary. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that, with the reform starting off in such a way, and with such ‘standards of integrity’ established by the High Qualifications Commission of Judges of Ukraine and the High Council of Justice, there is no sense in any further qualifying assessments of acting judges, as the dismissal of a judge due to non-compliance with the criterion of integrity will require a court verdict.”Still, the activists announced they continue the fight for the implementation of the judiciary reform and are ready to suggest changes which will not allow similar results to happen in the future and will give the opportunity to regain the trust of society.
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