HQCJ elects six candidates for Public Council of International Experts

The candidates to the PCIE were elected at an open meeting of the HQCJ on November 6 by secret ballot, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Fourteen HQCJ members took part in the voting.

"In accordance with Part 1 of Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine on the High Anti-Corruption Court, the Public Council of International Experts is formed for a term of six years to help the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine prepare decisions on appointment of judges to the High Anti-Corruption Court," HQCJ Chairman Serhiy Kozyakov said.

According to him, the Public Council of International Experts fulfills its powers in the composition of six members appointed by the commission, solely on the basis of proposals from international organizations with which Ukraine cooperates in the field of preventing and combating corruption, in accordance with international treaties of Ukraine.

"On September 19, the commission received proposals on 12 candidates nominated for appointment to the council from five international organizations with which Ukraine cooperates. Between October 18 and November 5, Skype conferences were held by members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine to interview 12 candidates for the post of members of the Public Council of International Experts. At the initiative of the commission, interviews were initially conducted with 11 candidates, and we could not interview the 12th candidate for personal reasons which the candidate expressed in his letter. We informed international organizations about this delay, and on November 5 they interviewed the 12th candidate," Kozyakov said.

He stressed that PCIE members could be Ukrainian citizens or foreigners who have impeccable business reputation, high professional and moral qualities, social authority, and at least five years of experience of work in other countries on the implementation of procedural control or the conduct of legal proceedings in corruption-related cases.

Thus, HQCJ members elected the following candidates for the PCIE:

- Aurelijus Gutauskas - Judge at the Supreme Court. Experience as judge, specialization in criminal law, organized crime and judicial ethics and discipline.

- Flemming Christian Denker (Denmark) - Retired Deputy State Prosecutor in the Office for Serious Economic Crime. Experience as prosecutor/lawyer, specialization in corruption and economic crimes.

- Ted Zarzeczny - Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench for Saskatchewan, Canada. Experience as judge/prosecutor/lawyer. 

- Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska - Former President of the First Section of the European Court of Human Rights. Experience as judge, specialization in human rights, constitutional issues and corruption-related cases.

- Lorna Harris - Retired UK Prosecutor.

- Sir Anthony Hooper (the United Kingdom) - Retired appeal court judge. Experience as judge, specialization in civil and criminal asset recovery, including related to proceeds of corruption. 

On August 2, 2018, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine announced two competitions - one for 39 posts of judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court and another for 78 posts of judges of the Supreme Court. The submission of documents for participation in both competitions lasted from August 8, 2018 until September 14, 2018 inclusive.

In late September, the HQCJ reported that it had received from five international organizations a list of 12 candidates for the Public Council of International Experts, which will facilitate the selection of judges to the High Anti-Corruption Court.

The Public Council of International Experts is a subsidiary body of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, which participates in the assessment of the integrity of candidates for the Anti-Corruption Court and initiates the termination of the participation of bad-faith candidates in the competition.

Members of the council are elected for a term of two years without the possibility of re-election. Six qualified persons proposed by international organizations with which Ukraine cooperates in the field of preventing and combating corruption in accordance with international treaties will help the High Qualification Commission of Judges determine compliance with the criteria of integrity of candidates for the High Anti-Corruption Court.

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