On Monday, 6 October, a three-day seminar "Strengthening the rule of law in challenging times: Dialogue between Latvian and Ukrainian judiciaries" was opened at the Supreme Court of Latvia, with the aim of promoting a professional exchange of experience between representatives of the judiciary of both countries, strengthening judicial independence and the fundamental principles of a democratic state even in the most challenging circumstances.

At the opening part, Aigars Strupišs, President of the Supreme Court and the Judicial Council, pointed out that the rule of law lies in the foundation of a democratic state, and ensuring it is the core task of the judiciary, especially when countries are faced with various challenges. Latvia has experienced the path to democracy and integration into the European Union, and, as the President noted, the most difficult part of it was the change of mindset. The challenges faced by the Ukrainian judicial system during wartime can serve as a valuable lesson for Latvia.

Both the Chair of the High Council of Justice of Ukraine, Hryhorii Usyk, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Latvia, Anatolii Kutsevol, expressed their gratitude to the Latvian judicial system for supporting Ukraine in its struggle for peace and democracy.

During the seminar, information is to be exchanged and discussions are to be held on various topics of relevance to the judicial system – the selection procedure of judges, cooperation with Constitutional Courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union, evaluation of professional qualifications of judges, judicial ethics and disciplinary liability of judges.

The Chair of the Selection Commission Dzintra Balta, constitutional law expert Jānis Pleps, the Chair of the Judicial Disciplinary Committee Valerijs Maksimovs, the Chair of the Disciplinary Court Normunds Salenieks and the member of the Disciplinary Court Anita Kovaļevska will also discuss the said issues with Ukrainian colleagues.

The seminar participants will also analyze the Ukraine's experience in the application of criminal law and the administration of the judicial system in wartime. The Chair of the Senate’s Department of Criminal Cases Aivars Uminskis, and the Head of the Administration Sandra Lapiņa, will also take part in the discussion.

In addition, the Ukrainian delegation will visit the Riga Regional Court, the Kurzeme District Court in Kuldīga, and the Zemgale District Court in Tukums.

The seminar has been organised in cooperation between the Judicial Council of Latvia, the Supreme Court of Latvia and the High Council of Justice of Ukraine.

 

Information prepared by

Rasma Zvejniece, Head of the Division of Communication of the Supreme Court

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: +371 67020396, +371 28652211