The High Council of Justice issued its opinion based on the results of an investigation into the information set forth in Judge Svitlana Hrechana’s report regarding alleged interference in her work. The outcome for the judge was disappointing: no evidence of unlawful influence, pressure, or interference in the administration of justice was found.
At the same time, it was established that Judge Grechana deliberately created conditions that effectively made a proper hearing of the case impossible. She obstructed access by the public and the media by selecting courtrooms that were physically unable to accommodate everyone who wished to attend, even though the court had more spacious facilities at its disposal. The judge characterized any disagreement with these actions as “pressure” and the presence of spectators as an “illegal gathering.”
Such actions by the judge set a dangerous precedent, in which the court arbitrarily restricts the right to a public trial, hiding behind its own subjective assessments.
Andriy Yosypov, attorney and partner at Barristers Law Firm:
“It is clear that Judge Hrechana’s appeal to the High Council of Justice was an attempt to legitimize restrictions on the openness of court proceedings. However, the High Council of Justice did not support this. The judge acted not in the interests of justice, but for the sake of manipulation.”
Author: Andriy Yosipov, Attorney and Partner at Barristers
Source: Barristers Facebook