Ukraine adopts Western-backed judicial reforms

Ukraine on Thursday overhauled its long-criticised legal system by adopting Western standards that limit the immunity of judges and establish an anti-corruption court.

The raft of measures is aimed at bringing the former Soviet republic closer to its ambition of applying for EU membership by 2020.

It is also seen as vital to kickstarting an international support programme that could keep Ukraine's floundering economy afloat.

The war-scarred country has been criticised for having a corruption-riddled justice system that has put up roadblocks to foreign investment and benefited engrained political interests tied to a handful of powerful tycoons.

"We are restoring Ukrainians' right for the truth, the right for justice," President Petro Poroshenko told lawmakers shortly before they approved the measures almost unanimously.

"We are doing this for investors whom we need to come to Ukraine, create jobs, pay taxes and ensure our economic development."

One of the more important changes involves the establishment of an independent anti-graft and intellectual property body within the next 12 months.

Another strips court appointees of their full immunity from prosecution and makes them liable for crimes committed outside the courtroom.

The new system also sets up an independent pannel for selecting judges based on their professional merits instead of their political or business ties.

Poroshenko said more than 40 percent of Ukraine's current court members would not qualify under the new ethics system.

The Western-backed leader has lost public approval over his perceived failure to erase a legacy of graft he inherited from a Russian-backed administration that was toppled during a February 2014 pro-EU revolt.

Earlier this year senior members of Ukraine's government submitted their resignations over alleged backroom deals struck with the help of oligarchs that determined important appointments and the passage of legislation.

The political storm culminated in the resignation of prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and his replacement with parliament's pro-Western speaker Volodymyr Groysman in April.

The Poroshenko protege has vowed to pursue economic and political restructuring measures pushed by Ukraine's foreign allies and lenders such as the International Monetary Fund.

Deputy presidential administration chief Oleksiy Filatov said the new legal system -- now enshrined in the constitution -- "will de-politicise and ensure the independence of the judiciary."

- 'Regaining public trust' -

Ukraine has been slowly shedding its Soviet legacy since its historic 2014 decision to pull out of Russia's orbit and anchor its future with the West.

Some leaders of that revolution have been disenchanted with the degree to which insiders and vying political clans still dominate government and split up Ukraine's meagre financial resources among themselves.

But Ukraine has retained strong US support and used Germany and France's help to put pressure on Russia and try to end a 25-month pro-Moscow separatist conflict in the east that has claimed more than 9,300 lives.

US ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, called Thursday's vote "a historic day" and a "big step forward on Ukraine's European path".

Washington is "ready to support implementation and work ahead to transform the judiciary into an independent, accountable and efficient institution," Pyatt tweeted.

British Ambassador Judith Gough also hailed the "important progress" made toward judicial transparency.

But Gough also cautioned that "effective implementation will be key to regaining public trust".

Source: AFP