Oleh Malinevskyi moderated a panel at the international Justice Conference

The international “Justice Conference” was organised by the Office of the President of Ukraine on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion.

The panel discussion featured Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Stanislav Kravchenko, President of the Supreme Court Denys Maslov, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy Hryhoriy Usyk, Chair of the High Council of Justice and European Commissioner (Minister) for Enlargement Marta Kos, Director of Human Rights at the Council of Europe Clare Ovey, Military Ombudsman Olga Reshetilova, and Project Manager at “Pravo-JUSTICE” Oksana Tsymbrivska, discussed the topic “Development of the justice system: prospects for the transformation of the judiciary”.

Key points from Managing Partner at EQUITY Oleh Malinevskyi's speech:

Russian aggression is a new type of war. In addition to military action, it actively employs lawfare — the use of law as a weapon. The aggressor uses these mechanisms to protect its assets and avoid responsibility. 

Ukraine must initiate national criminal proceedings, increase sanctions pressure and, at the same time, launch new instruments, a special tribunal and the expansion of universal jurisdiction. The Council of Europe is already playing a separate role in this process by promoting the idea of a special tribunal, creating a register of damages and ECHR decisions.

A balanced approach to reform is needed. Excessively lengthy court reform procedures can exacerbate the staffing crisis and complicate access to justice. Clear and irreversible disciplinary responsibility is a more effective tool for cleansing the judicial system.

Conference participants made it clear that ensuring accountability and a just peace is possible by combining the resilience of Ukrainian judges, institutional support from partners, and a systematic legal response to aggression.