Judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine participated in the VI Congress of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice

5 November 2025

Judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine took part in the VI Congress of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice (WCCJ) at the invitation of the President of the Constitutional Court of Spain, Cándido Conde-Pumpido Tourón, and the Venice Commission, which took place on October 28-31, 2025. This year's theme of the Congress was “The Human Rights of Future Generations.” The event brought together representatives of 88 constitutional justice bodies from all continents of the world.

The delegation included judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Serhiy Riznyk, Olga Sovgyria, and Galyna Yurovska (head of the delegation).

On the first day of the Congress (28 October 2025), the delegates took part in the work of regional and linguistic groups, in particular in the meeting of the Conference of European Constitutional Courts (CECC). During this meeting, the participants discussed issues related to amendments to the Statute of the WCCJ, the procedure for electing a new member of the WCCJ Bureau from Europe, the organisation's contribution to the work of the VI WCCJ Congress, and the draft questionnaire for the XX Congress on the topic: “Freedom of expression – fake news as a threat to democracy”, which will take place in May 2027 in Tirana, Albania.

During this meeting, the participants agreed to the proposal of the delegation of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to include in the text of the final communiqué of the VI Congress of the WCCJ a provision on maintaining peaceful cooperation between states on the basis of universally recognised constitutional values, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Justifying the need to include this proposal, the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Galyna Yurovska, noted: “These proposals are fully in line with the overall objectives of the Congress, and their inclusion in the text of the final communiqué of the VI Congress of the WCCJ will improve the outcome and ensure that the views of the WCCJ member courts are fully represented”.

During the discussion of the proposals of the Ukrainian delegation, judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Serhiy Riznyk and Galyna Yurovska, in particular, emphasised that:

“The consequences of the Chornobyl tragedy of 1986 still affect the health of the population, the environment and the economy of Ukraine. Today, our country is once again facing an environmental disaster of global proportions, but this time caused by war.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, our land has suffered extensive environmental damage. The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has become one of the greatest environmental crimes of this century. These are not just crimes against nature, they are crimes against humanity that violate fundamental human rights – the right to life, health and a safe environment.

And yet, despite the destruction, Ukraine remains strong. We are defending not only our sovereignty and our territory, we are defending the very principles on which this Congress is built: the rule of law, democracy and human dignity”.

After discussion and refinement by the working group created by the CECC, amendments were made to the final draft of the Communiqué, according to which the participants of the Congress called on the members of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice “to take all measures within their constitutional powers necessary to ensure peaceful cooperation between states on the basis of universally recognised constitutional values. These values include the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, effective protection of the environment, preservation of cultural heritage, scientific development in the interests of all humanity, and strengthening the independence of constitutional control institutions”.

On the same day, the delegation of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine held a series of bilateral meetings with delegations from constitutional courts and other equivalent institutions, as well as with representatives of international organizations and associations. In particular, meetings were held with the President of the Constitutional Court of Austria, Christoph Grabenwarter, the President of the Constitutional Court of Albania, Holta Zaçaj, the President of the Constitutional Court of Spain, Cándido Conde-Pumpido Tourón, Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of Spain Inmakulada Montalbán and judges of the Constitutional Court of Spain, President of the Constitutional Court of Latvia Irēna Kucina and Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of Latvia Anita Rodiņa, President of the Constitutional Court of Moldova Domnica Manole, President of the Constitutional Court of Portugal José João Abrantes and Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of Portugal João Carlos Simões Gonçalves Loureiro, President of the Constitutional Court of Romania Elena Simina Tănăsescu and judges of the Constitutional Court of Romania,  the President of the Constitutional Court of Slovakia, Ivan Fiačan, and Judge of the Constitutional Court of Slovakia, Jana Baricová, the Chief Justice of Canada, Richard Wagner.

Judge Olga Sovgyria held a working meeting with the President of the Ibero-American Conference on Constitutional Justice, Judge of the Constitutional Court of Spain Enrique Arnaldo Alcubilla, and the Secretary General of the Ibero-American Conference on Constitutional Justice, Andrés Gutiérrez Gil.

During these meetings, issues related to the development of constitutional justice, strengthening the rule of law, protecting human rights, and expanding international cooperation were discussed. The parties also expressed their solidarity and support for Ukraine in the context of ongoing armed aggression, emphasising the importance of adhering to the principles of international law and the independence of constitutional jurisdiction bodies.