Over these years, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has proven its effectiveness and independence in handling the most complex corruption cases and bringing to justice officials, members of parliament, judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers. Its work has shown that high office is no shield against accountability. Over these years, the Court has passed 304 verdicts against 444 individuals, and the number of verdicts is increasing every year.
“The story of the High Anti-Corruption Court is not just the story of a single institution. It is the story of a country learning to live by the law and striving for fair justice. May this sixth anniversary serve not only as a celebration but also as a reminder of responsibility — responsibility to those who believe in us, to those who await justice, and to the future we are building,”
Vira Mykhailenko, Head of the High Anti-Corruption Court, stressed.
In her interventions, the Head of the Court emphasized that the independence of the Court has never before been challenged to the extent it is now.
“As the current EU Presidency, we emphasize support to Ukraine in every aspect. One of our priorities in this regard is enlargement, and the rule of law road map and its implementation is crucial for this. So, a big recognition, a big heartfelt thank you to all the esteemed representatives of the judiciary and the anti-corruption institutions for the work that you do every day to advance the rule of law in Ukraine. Without you, there will be no EU integration because this is part of the Fundamentals. And I thank you, also, for the bravery. There are forces opposing this work and this crucial agenda, but you are ready to oppose them every day and sometimes through the nights,”
said Lars Olaf Søvndahl Petersen, Deputy Head of Mission of the Danish Embassy in Ukraine.
The EU Anti-Corruption Initiative has been a reliable partner of HACC from the very beginning, supporting its institutional development through training, equipment, and strategic planning, and assisting in the field of legislation and communication.
On behalf of the EU Delegation, Allan Pagh Kristensen, the Head of the EUACI, underlined the importance of the Court and the support of the EU, also in difficult times, and praised the results achieved.
“Your Court can be trusted for providing fair verdicts and justice. I would say you’re the number one court in Ukraine. There’s no doubt about that. And without you, Ukraine would be in a very different place in the fight against high-level corruption. A special appreciation of all the judges, hard working, super competent, and dealing with some of the most difficult and complex cases in Ukraine. It also comes with challenges, sometimes with pressure. And the court, I think, will continue to be a vulnerable institution that we need to give our full attention”
Allan Pagh Kristensen said.
He stressed that the court needs to have more capacity, more judges, better premises, and appropriate conditions for the work, reducing the possibilities of abuse of procedural rights.
The EUACI will assist the Court, ensuring it continues to grow stronger and more effective.
The event was co-organized by the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative and Transparency International Ukraine.
