Category
Ukraine
Publication date

If judicial reform takes place, many people will return to Ukraine, — Masi Nayem

Source:  online.ua
If judicial reform takes place, many people will return to Ukraine, — Masi Nayem

A Ukrainian lawyer, public figure and serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Masi Nayem said to the journalist Anastasia Bagalika why a successful judicial reform would guarantee the return of Ukrainians from abroad and how the corruption chaos in the courts created a demand for the rule of law,

Judicial reform should begin with the reform of law enforcement agencies.

When we discuss changes and reforms, many from the professional society put judicial reform first, at least before the war. Because judicial reform sets the framework in which everyone lives, and it can change a lot in other areas. First, how important is it, and how high is it in priorities? And secondly, how will it affect all the other areas where we need change?

As a lawyer, I know that courts look at materials that are the product of the work of law enforcement agencies. If this product is of poor quality, judicial reform will do nothing.

However, I understand that judicial reform will change when law enforcement agencies collect evidence qualitatively, and there will be no corruption, or it will be minimal. Because zero corruption does not exist.

If the judge knows that it is impossible to bribe law enforcement agencies, then maybe the whole system will change. Therefore, for me, the reform of the judicial system is preceded by the reform of law enforcement agencies, which cannot now collect enough evidence.

Now, there is an entire institution — anti-corruption institutions. But reforms are not occurring in the police or the SSU [n the Security Service of Ukraine - Ed]. The SBI [State Bureau of Investigation - Ed.] is generally a worthless institution that is unable to do anything because it is actually managed manually.

Therefore, if the reforms take place precisely by design when they start with law enforcement agencies, then the judicial reform can really change.

If judicial reform takes place, I am sure that many people will return to Ukraine. Because this is a basic need for security.

When my brother was beaten in the center of Kyiv by three citizens of the Russian Federation, we lost in the original jurisdiction in this case. Because the law enforcement agency did not attach a document that allowed them to collect evidence.

And we warned the prosecutor's office that we could not do this because we would lose in court. They didn't listen. I understand that in this part, I will tell my child that it is dangerous here, and I do not want to live here.

Therefore, I am sure that if the judicial reform can be carried out, many people will return because Ukrainians want to develop Ukraine. They want to use their brains here because this is their native home.

We are not expected anywhere in other countries, no one is happy for us. And this is honest, I know as an emigrant from Afghanistan. And here we want to live, so there are at least basic security needs. And judicial reform is about security.

Chaos in the law enforcement system creates a demand for the rule of law.

I will also ask about law, lawyers, and courts. Maybe it was like that before the war, and maybe it was like that until 2014, and then it started to change, but in society's perception, the courts, lawyers, and law enforcement system are the environments where corruption is the most prevalent. However, I know that among lawyers, there are those driving change, those who, for example, are driving the cleaning of the Supreme Council of Justice. Some lawyers work honestly, and there are more of them lately. Do you think it is because they are ideological? And how do we make sure that the majority are ideological in jurisprudence?

It has finally become clear to many lawyers that the chaos that occurs when power changes, when they are forced to negotiate with someone else, is less convenient and practical than the rule of law. Because the rule of law is the rules that have already been written.

We will be able to be equal, use our brains, and be concretely capable when we are equal, and here, show our brains—what we really are.

For example, when we approach the bench of the Anti-Corruption Court, it is a pleasure. Because in ordinary courts, among three judges, one is necessarily asleep, the other nods his head, and only the third is possibly involved.

Everyone is involved in the Anti-Corruption Court. And we can finally show our expertise, we finally have this principle of competitiveness.

I think that the environment will change only when we talk more about the rule of law rather than justice.

Among our lawyers, as far as I know, this discourse is raised very rarely because even Ukrainian lawyers often confuse justice with the rule of law.

Justice is something subjective. But what we charge, for example, for pro bono cases, creates this request, and then our colleagues also pick up.

And when you do business for free, you definitely know that only your brain wins. Because there is no money there. No one will pay there, and no one here will pay you.

Since 2016-17, when there were attacks on activists, we have been taking pro bono from many activists and defending them. We have created this request.

I now feel that lawyers who know they will have to fight with their brains are coming to the courts.

This chaos was created by politicians in the law enforcement system when it was unknown who was responsible for what and requested that uniform rules be made. I am sure that over time, there will be more and more of it. It is convenient.

Category
Ukraine
Publication date

The Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled one of the brutal assaults by the Russian army on New Year's Eve

Volodymyr Zelenskyi
The Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled one of the brutal assaults by the Russian army on New Year's Eve

Ukrainian defenders repelled one of the most brutal Russian assaults. This happened on New Year's Eve.

Points of attention

  • Ukrainian defenders repelled one of the fierce Russian assaults before the New Year, defending positions in the Donetsk region.
  • President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the 24th and 100th separate mechanized brigades for repelling the assault, as well as other units that are actively defending Ukrainian territories.
  • The Head of State noted the activity of Russian attacks in the Kursk region and the defense of the Kherson region.
  • According to the General Staff, 140 combat clashes were recorded over the past 24 hours and the defenders repelled 7 attacks in the Kupyansk direction.
  • 14 battles were recorded in the Kramatorsk direction. The enemy tried to advance in the Lymansk, Toretsk, and Pokrovsk directions, but Ukrainian defenders repelled 38 attacks in the Pokrovsk direction.

Zelensky thanked the Ukrainian defenders

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, today there was a report by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky on the situation at the front and in the areas of the Kursk Operation.

In terms of the results of the battles these days, I want to note the 24th and 100th separate mechanized brigades, which repelled one of the very fierce Russian assaults on New Year's Eve, as well as the 59th separate motorized infantry and 68th separate chasseur brigades, which are defending Pokrovsk, and the 79th brigade of the DShV, which is operating extremely actively.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

According to him, every day — both December 31 and January 1 — the Defense Forces repel constant Russian assaults in the Donetsk region.

The most in a day is the Pokrovsky direction, Kurakhiv, and hard on the Lymansky and Vremovsky directions. In the Kursk region, our units continue to defend positions — more than 30 Russian attacks per day, — the head of state noted.

The defense of the Kherson region was also discussed.

What is the situation at the front?

As the General Staff notes, 140 combat clashes were recorded over the past 24 hours.

  • Seven attacks by the invaders took place in the Kupyansk direction over the past day. Defense forces repelled enemy assault actions near Kolisnykivka, Zagryzove, Lozova, and Nova Kruglyakivka.

  • In the Lymansky direction, the enemy attacked 16 times. He tried to advance near Novosergiyevka, Tverdokhlibovye, Kopanky, Makiyevka, Ivanovka, Zeleny Gay, Torske, Terni, and in the Serebryansky forest.

  • In the Kramatorsk direction, 14 clashes were recorded in the areas of the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Predtechyne.

  • In the Toretsk direction, the enemy, with the support of aviation, carried out seven attacks near Toretsk, Diliivka, and in the direction of Shcherbinivka.

In the Pokrovsky direction, our defenders stopped 38 assault and offensive actions of the aggressor in the areas of Vozdvizhenka, Myrolyubivka, Lysivka, Novy Trud, Solonye, Kotlyne, Pishchany, Pokrovsk, Novoelizavetivka, Promeny, Zeleny, Novoolenivka, Shevchenko, Dachensky and Novovasylivka.

  • In the Kurakhiv direction, the Defense Forces repelled 26 attacks on the positions of our troops near Ukrainka, Petropavlivka, and Kurakhiv.

  • In the Vremiv direction, the enemy carried out 19 offensive actions against the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Dachny, Konstantinopol, Yantarny, Novoselka, Rozlyv, and Novy Komar.

Category
Ukraine
Publication date

Ukraine will help stabilize the situation in Syria. Zelensky held a special meeting

Volodymyr Zelenskyi
Ukraine will help stabilize the situation in Syria. Zelensky held a special meeting

Ukraine will contribute to the stabilization of the situation in Syria after the fall of the Bashar Assad regime by ensuring supplies of Ukrainian grain to Syrian citizens, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.

Points of attention

  • President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed to develop a program to supply Ukrainian grain to Syria to support its people after the fall of the Assad regime.
  • Ukraine plans to cooperate with the Syrian administration and international partners within the framework of the 'Grain from Ukraine' program to achieve stabilization of the situation in Syria.
  • The new Syrian government demands that Russia completely withdraw its troops from the country, including the bases in Hmeimim and Tartus, by February 20, 2025.
  • The head of European diplomacy and European Union leaders insist on freeing Syria from the Russian military presence for the sake of stability in the region.
  • The breakdown of the cargo ship Sparta caused technical difficulties for the Russian occupiers in withdrawing equipment and weapons from Syria, which complicates their presence in the country.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the situation in Syria

As noted, the president held a meeting on the situation in Syria, after hearing reports from the ministers of foreign affairs and agricultural policy on their visit to Syria.

The results of the talks in Damascus, as well as the security and economic prospects of cooperation, were discussed.

Ukraine will make every effort to stabilize the situation in Syria. We will set up the "Grain from Ukraine" program to cooperate with the Syrian administration and international partners ready to support this initiative.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

The President also emphasized that Ukraine will actively communicate with European countries and the United States to ensure maximum support for Syria.

"More stability in the Middle East means more peace and trade opportunities for all our partners," Zelenskyy emphasized.

Syria's new government demands Putin completely withdraw his troops

Syria's opposition forces, which recently overthrew the regime of Bashar Assad, want the Kremlin to completely withdraw its military contingent from the country.

What is important to understand is that this applies to the bases in Hmeimim and Tartus, and the deadline is set for February 20, 2025.

According to the GUR, some of the Russian occupiers were stranded in the open sea due to the breakdown of the cargo ship Sparta, which was used to evacuate equipment and weapons from Syria.

The Sparta suffered a technical failure while underway - a fuel pipe to the main engine failed. The crew is trying to fix the problem, but the ship is currently drifting in the open sea near Portugal.

Also recently, the head of European diplomacy, Kaia Kallas, and some European Union leaders are insisting that Syria be freed from the Russian military presence.

By staying online, you consent to the use of cookies files, which help us make your stay here even better 

Based on your browser and language settings, you might prefer the English version of our website. Would you like to switch?