Around 73% of Ukrainians support pressure from international partners on the Ukrainian government to clean up the justice system

The majority of Ukrainians doubt that the government is capable of implementing justice reform independently, without external pressure. A new survey conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, together with the DEJURE Foundation, highlighted that 75% of Ukrainians want the European Union to set clear requirements for Ukraine regarding justice reform and the fight against corruption.

At the same time, 73% support pressure from international partners on the Ukrainian government to clean up the justice system and combat corruption in Ukraine.

Only 18% of citizens believe that the government can cope without external assistance.

In total, 2,500 respondents aged 18 and over were surveyed. Residents of the temporarily occupied territories were not included in the sample. The survey was conducted between August 3 and 13, 2025. The maximum sampling error does not exceed 2.3%.

In this context, it is clear why the European Union expects convincing and irreversible changes in Ukraine’s judicial system to eliminate the risks of returning to past practices. Until 2013, judges were selected by representatives of judicial self-government, the bar, and the prosecution. This led to a catastrophic quality of justice, judicial dependence, and a culture of mutual cover-ups. That is why international experts with the prevailing vote were involved in the selection processes in the justice sector.

Despite the successes of reforms under such a mechanism, the mandates of international experts in judicial selection commissions are gradually expiring. The issue of extending the mandate of international experts in the Selection Commission for the HQCJ remains on the agenda, but draft law No. 13382 is stalled in parliament. Instead of international experts, representatives of unreformed Ukrainian institutions are to take part in the selection process. This threatens the current achievements of the HQCJ, its independence, and creates risks of a return to behind-the-scenes appointments of relatives and loyal individuals.

The Venice Commission has emphasised that the involvement of international experts should continue until the expected results are achieved. The survey underscores that the majority of society supports setting clear requirements for Ukraine to deliver results in the justice sector and views the participation of international partners as crucial to achieving this goal. This is especially relevant in the crisis surrounding the HQCJ Selection Commission, which determines the quality and integrity of future judges for years to come.

Therefore, the government’s key task today is to ensure the continuity of the international experts’ mandate in judicial selections and to prevent a return to dependent and corrupt justice practices.