“It is important to unite the country around the values contained in the Constitution of Ukraine”, the President of the Court
On March 25, the President of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Stanislav Shevchuk held a meeting with the Head of Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) International Observation Mission to Ukraine’s Presidential Elections Eugene Czolij. The meeting was also attended by Coordinator of the International Observation Mission to Ukraine’s Presidential Elections of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Volodymyr Kistianyk.
The President of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Stanislav Shevchuk noted that the constitutional jurisdiction body of the country is experiencing difficult times. He highlighted that the nature of powers of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine is to declare the laws unconstitutional, that is, the affirmation of the Basic Law of the country. Stanislav Shevchuk stressed that it was unacceptable to interpret the C
onstitution through the laws. “The bodies of state power should adopt acts in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, and not to adjust the Constitution to adopted acts,” added the President of the Court.
Stanislav Shevchuk noted that the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine are not political, but they have a great political effect. He highlighted the decisions of the Court, in which the Court declared unconstitutional laws as a whole due to the violation of the procedure for their consideration and approval. Thus, according to the President of the Court, the Laws of Ukraine “On the Principles of State Language Policy” and “On All-Ukrainian Referendum” were declared unconstitutional as a whole.
The President of the Court also mentioned the decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine on conformity of Article 368² of the Criminal Code of Ukraine to the Constitution of Ukraine (constitutionality). He emphasised that the constitutional jurisdiction body of the country supports the fight against corruption, which is also stressed in the decision. Yet he noted that the fight against corruption should be carried out exclusively in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine. “The fight against corruption in Ukraine is a matter of exceptional social and state importance, and the criminalisation of illicit enrichment is an important legal means for implementing the state policy in this area,” highlighted Stanislav Shevchuk.
Stanislav Shevchuk, speaking about the powers of the President of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to administer the oath to the newly elected President of Ukraine, emphasised that in this way the President of the Constitutional Court informs society on the fulfilment of the constitutional requirements by the newly elected President of Ukraine. “This is not a ceremonial procedure, but the fixation of the fact that the elections took place in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, therefore it is not coincidental that this responsibility is assigned to the President of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine,” he emphasised.
The President of the Constitutional Court pointed out the importance of being faithful to the values proclaimed 
in the Basic Law of the country. “It is important to unite the country around the values contained in the Constitution of Ukraine,” concluded Stanislav Shevchuk.
The Head of Ukrainian World Congress International Observation Mission to Ukraine’s Presidential Elections Eugene Czolij noted that the WCU is an international coordinating structure of the Ukrainian communities in the diaspora, representing the interests of more than 20 million Ukrainians. According to him, the UWC has a network of constituent organisations and links with Ukrainians in 62 countries.
Eugene Czolij noted that the main goals of the WCU are to promote the unity of the Ukrainian people around the world, to strengthen the connection of Ukrainian communities and the Ukrainian diaspora with Ukraine, including with the government and civil society, promoting the principles of democracy in the world through monitoring democratic processes, in particular by elections or referendums. According to him, the UWC cooperates with governments, peoples and organisations to achieve the above-mentioned goals in the spirit of peace, freedom, equality and justice.
The speaker emphasised the difference between Ukrainian World Congress International Observation Mission and other similar missions. He noted that the UWC monitors elections not only in the country, but also abroad.
Eugene Czolij highlighted the fact that an effective Constitutional Court of Ukraine is a sign of a democratic country. He noted that, stability of state depends on the constitutional jurisdiction body of the country, which protects the Constitution of Ukraine and the rule of law principle. “It is important to explain to the people the decision of the Court so that the society could understand that the Constitutional Court is acting in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine,” highlighted the Head of Ukrainian World Congress International Observation Mission to Ukraine’s Presidential Elections.
At the end of the meeting, the interlocutors thanked each other for a constructive conversation and exchanged suggestions on further cooperation. “I believe that Ukraine will flourish, and the Ukrainian people will be able to fully trust the state bodies”, concluded Eugene Czolij.
