KIEV, May 29 (Itar-Tass) —— Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has set the task of ensuring the independence of judges and the effectiveness of their activity.
“This is one of the key conditions for the country’s development. Without coping with such tasks it will be impossible to successfully reform the country in other spheres, in the first place, in the economy,” Yanukovich said at the inauguration of professional judges.
“Our goal is to adjust the system of justice to the best international practices, to raise the authority and prestige of the judge’s profession, and to enhance the independence of judges,” Yanukovich said. He voiced the certainty that Ukrainian society needed well-educated and competent judges, capable of taking a high-principled position in protecting the interests of citizens and society.
Yanukovich said the authorities were taking the necessary measures to better the legal, social and financial guarantees of the independence of judges.
“I believe that an independent judge is in the first place an educated judge, whose professionalism is a pre-requisite for available, fair and honest administration of justice,” Yanukovich said.
He pointed out that the adoption of a new Code of Criminal Procedure was crucial to the operation of the judicial system, the whole of society and the legal protection of citizens.
Yanukovich voiced the certainty that much attention should be paid to ways of perfecting the operation of courts and their staffs.
“Each citizen should have a chance to feel the support of the state in accessing justice in the courts of all levels,” Yanukovich said.