Working visit of Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Serhiy Holovaty to the Republic of Lithuania

October 24-26, 2022

Serhiy Holovaty, Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine paid a three-day working visit to Vilnius, where he took part in the International Conference dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Constitution of the State of Lithuania of 1922 and the 30^th  anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania of 1992 and held a number of meetings.

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October 26, 2022

Serhiy Holovaty visited the Ukrainian Center in Vilnius

On Wednesday, October 26, Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Serhiy Holovaty, together with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania Petro Beshta and the President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania Danutė Jočienė visited the Ukrainian Center for citizens who were forced to leave Ukraine due to the war.

Former Lithuanian Ambassador to Ukraine Algirdas Kumža is the Head of the Ukrainian Center in Vilnius.

The Center was established to support Ukrainians who received temporary shelter in Lithuania. In the Center, children, youth and adults can attend lectures, educational courses, and receive psychological assistance. Meetings, concerts and other cultural events are also held here.

Serhiy Holovaty got acquainted with the activities of the Center, talked with its Head and volunteers who work there. He once again thanked his Lithuanian friends for supporting Ukraine and its citizens in a difficult time for the country. According to him, the activities of the Ukrainian Center will further deepen the friendly relations between the two countries.

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Serhiy Holovaty, Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine,  Handed Over a Unique Publication  of the “Constitution of the Ukrainian Hetman State” to the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania

On Wednesday, October 26, Serhiy Holovaty, Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, visited the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, where he presented a unique publication of the Constitution of 1710 – “Constitution of the Ukrainian Hetman State”. This publication is written in four languages - Old Slavic, Latin, Ukrainian and English. “We decided to present you with a unique thing, a unique book. In Ukraine, what is published in the book is referred to as the “golden crown of Ukrainian constitutional heritage”. It was published in 1997 in honour of the first new Constitution of democratic, independent Ukraine. This document, which is published here, is dated 1710. Despite the fact that Ukraine was enslaved at the time, the Cossack state embodied what was always inherent in the Cossack nation: will, freedom, and independence,” Serhiy Holovaty noted.

He handed over the publication to the Library fund, and made an entry to the Book of Honourary Guests of the National Library. “It is with great pleasure that I present you this legal document, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share our cultural heritage,” Serhiy Holovaty emphasised.

The event was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania Petro Beshta, historian professor Dr. Alfredas Bumblauskas, lawyer, professor Dr. Dainius Žalimas and Director General of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania professor Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas.

 

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October 25, 2022

Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Serhiy Holovaty delivered a speech at the International Conference “From the National Constitution to Transnational Constitutionalism”

On Tuesday, October 25, the International Conference “From the National Constitution to Transnational Constitutionalism”, organised by the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania together with the Commission of the Council of Europe for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of the 1922 Constitution of the State of Lithuania  and the 30^th anniversary of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, was held in Vilnius.

Participants and guests of the Conference discussed the importance of the Constitution as the supreme law in solving constitutional problems that go beyond national borders, as well as how the official interpretation of the Constitution contributes to solving these problems, and what experience states have in overcoming modern threats to the rule of law.

The President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė, President of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) Claire Bazy Malaurie, President of the Court of Justice of the European Union Koen Lenaerts and others delivered their welcome speeches.

The Conference was divided into four thematic sessions: constitutional traditions and constitutional endurance, constitution-centric legal system: the art of constitutional interpretation, transnational dimension of national constitutions, constitutional lessons leading towards a path forward.

During session IV of the Conference, acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Serhiy Holovaty delivered his speech “Constitutional Lessons from the Past and the Future”.

At the end of the Conference participants exchanged opinions on the topics discussed.

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October 24, 2022

Meeting of Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Serhiy Holovaty with the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen

On Monday, October 24, Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, Serhiy Holovaty, arrived in Vilnius to participate in the International Conference dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Constitution of the State of Lithuania of 1922 and the 30^th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania of 1992.

The Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court will hold a series of meetings in Vilnius.

Today, October 24, a meeting of Serhiy Holovaty with the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen took place.

The President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania Danutė Jočienė, the Deputy Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Julius Sabatauskas, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania Petro Beshta and the Head of the Committee on Legal Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Stasys Šedbaras participated in the event.

Serhiy Holovaty thanked Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen and the Lithuanian Parliament for unity and unwavering support of Ukraine on the path to its victory in the war against the Russian invaders, full restoration of territorial integrity, as well as for joining efforts to stop aggression and restore security in Europe.

He also expressed gratitude for the decisions delivered by the Seimas in support of Ukraine's membership in the European Union, and Lithuania's readiness to provide comprehensive assistance in the process of European integration.

Serhiy Holovaty congratulated the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on the 100^th anniversary of the Constitution of the State of Lithuania of 1922 and the 30^th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania of 1992. He wished Lithuania and the Lithuanian people further development and prosperity.

The Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas assured that Lithuania would continue to provide comprehensive assistance to Ukraine, help bring its victory in the war against Russia closer. According to Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Ukraine is now fighting not only for its independence and the European choice, it is fighting for the whole of Europe and common values. She believes that thanks to joint efforts and unwavering support of Ukraine, the cruel war will end with Ukraine's victory, and those guilty of war crimes will be punished.

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Serhiy Holovaty held a meeting with the President and judges of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania

During his working visit to Vilnius, Serhiy Holovaty visited the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, where he held a meeting with the President of the Constitutional Court Danutė Jočienė and the judges of the Court.

Serhiy Holovaty began the conversation by noting that October 24 this year marks the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Memorandum on developing cooperation between the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania. „Since 2014 constructive and friendly cooperation between our courts which we had enjoyed for two decades has turned into strong partnership and support in the darkest times for constitutional democracy“. According to him, the year 2022 became a vivid example of true human actions: the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, like the entire Lithuanian people, did not stand aside when the life of the Ukrainian people was at stake. „We are grateful to you from the bottom of our hearts for your unwavering support and help, especially on Ukraine’s path to a European future. I would like to express my special thanks for the uncompromising position of the Court expressed within the framework of the 5^th Congress of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice regarding the termination of the membership of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation in this world organisation“, Serhiy Holovaty emphasized.

He also discussed the activities of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine under martial law, noting that the Court continues to exercise its constitutional powers. He briefed his international colleagues on the Court’s decisions, which were delivered after the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukrainian territory.

Furthermore, the parties discussed a number of topical issues confronting the bodies of constitutional jurisdiction under the new conditions and exchanged views on a wide range of constitutional justice issues.

During his stay at the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, Serhiy Holovaty was acquainted with its history and development, and left an entry in the book of honored guests.

In addition, Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine held a meeting with Ukrainian students of the Law School of Mykolas Romeris University.