On 22 June a round table on the judicial protection of the rights and freedoms in conflict-affected areas of Ukraine and the relevant applications against Ukraine to the European Court of Human Rights took place in Kyiv, organized by the Council of Europe Project “Support to the implementation of the judicial reform in Ukraine”.

The event was attended by the representatives of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, the higher courts, Donetsk and Lugansk oblast courts, Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, Office of the Government Agent before the European Court of Human Rights, civil society, as well as the international experts of the Council of Europe.

The main objective of the event was to discuss the legislative gaps and the relevant judicial practice concerning the conflict in Ukraine, possibly resulting in the absence of an effective domestic remedy and, consequently, the applications to the ECtHR, as well as to suggest recommendations on possible solutions to this problem so to ensure effective domestic mechanisms for the protection of persons affected by the conflict, and to prevent applications to the ECtHR.

Following the discussion, the applicants expressed their opinion as regards the further format of cooperation between national authorities with the Council of Europe in ensuring the effective judicial protection in respect of the issues brought by the conflict in Ukraine.

The Council of Europe Project “Support to the implementation of the judicial reform in Ukraine” is financed by the contribution of the Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and is a follow-up to the previous Council of Europe efforts as regards the reform of the judiciary in Ukraine.