Open appeal to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine regarding the termination of unlawful actions by the Temporary Investigative Commission on Investigating Corruption in Law Enforcement Bodies, Courts, and Judicial Governance Bodies

On 19 June 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine established the Temporary Investigative Commission (TIC) to investigate possible facts of corruption or corruption-related offences in law enforcement bodies, courts, and judicial governance bodies, chaired by MPs Serhii Vlasenko and Maksym Buzhanskyi. 

Despite its declared purpose, the TIC poses a threat to the independence of anti-corruption institutions and judicial governance bodies. In particular, the TIC committed the following violations: 

• It reviewed the activities of the High Council of Justice (HCJ), the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (HQCJ), and the Public Integrity Council (PIC), although such tasks were not assigned by the Verkhovna Rada in para. 1, part 2, Article 1 of the resolution establishing the TIC;
• It attempted to apply compulsory appearance (bringing by force) to HQCJ member Serhii Chumak, despite the fact that part 3 of Article 49 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges” prohibits compulsory appearance of judges;
• It created an expert group not provided for by law, whose members bear no personal liability for knowingly false conclusions.

The following institutions have already stated that the TIC exceeded its powers and is being used as an instrument of pressure on anti-corruption bodies and as interference with the independence of the judiciary: the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC), the High Council of Justice (HCJ), the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (HQCJ), and the Public Integrity Council (PIC).

In its 2025 report on Ukraine, the European Commission noted that “it is important that parliamentary oversight does not erode public trust in anticorruption institutions through unwarranted public statements nor overstep the limitations stemming from the separation of powers.”

The VRU Committee on Rules of Procedure stated in its opinion that the TIC submitted its activity report without complying with the requirements of Article 21 of the Law of Ukraine “On Temporary Investigative Commissions and Temporary Special Commissions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine” — specifically, the report lacks the deadline for the next TIC report; information on voting on each established fact; and any proposals. Despite the fact that the Verkhovna Rada did not consider the TIC report and did not mandate the TIC to continue its work, the TIC approved a plan for the coming months and is planning meetings.

The actions of Members of Parliament within the TIC discredit parliamentary oversight, have nothing to do with a genuine fight against corruption, and create risks for Ukraine’s fulfilment of its obligations to the European Union.

In light of these facts, we demand that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine:

• Immediately include on the agenda of the nearest plenary session the hearing of the TIC’s report, conclusions, and proposals;
• Following consideration of the TIC report, adopt a decision to terminate the TIC’s mandate.

Signed by:

1. DEJURE Foundation
2. ZMINA Human Rights Centre
3. CHESNO Movement
4. Transparency International Ukraine
5. Centre for Economic Strategy
6. Bihus.Info
7. StateWatch
8. NGO “Human Rights Group ‘SICH’”
9. Detector Media
10. Center for Civil Liberties
11. MEZHA Anti-Corruption Center
12. Anti-Corruption Research and Education Center
13. Our World
14. NGO “Osnovy Svidomosti”
15. ZHAR.INFO
16. Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
17. Against Corruption NGO
18. Code 21 NGO