Overview of the results of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine in April 2026

OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS  OF THE HIGH QUALIFICATION COMMISSION OF JUDGES OF UKRAINE  April 2026

Procedures of the judicial career Selection for the position of local court judge On April 01, 2026, the Commission approved the results of the practical assignment in the specialisation of local administrative courts (the fourth stage of the qualification exam), which took place on October 07–08, 2025, for candidates for the position of local court judge and judges who had expressed an intention to be transferred to another local court. The overall results of the qualification exam in the specialisation of local administrative courts were also approved. A total of 282 persons (263 candidates for the position of judge and 19 judges) successfully passed the qualification exam. 263 candidates for the position of local administrative court judge who achieved a passing score in the qualification exam have been admitted to the special background check. The checking of 2,916 practical assignments completed as part of the qualification exam for candidates for the position of local court judge and judges who have expressed an intention to be transferred to another local court is ongoing: 406 in the commercial specialisation; 2,510 in the general specialisation. The Commission has conducted an analytical study of the overall results of the qualification exam in the specialisation of local administrative courts as part of the selection procedure for the position of local court judge, which was published on the official website of the Commission on April 22, 2026. [more]

Competition to the appellate courts

General statistics of the competition to the appellate courts

 

 

By specialisations
Stage	Administrative	Commercial	Criminal	Civil	TOTAL
Applied with applications (1 candidate did not choose a specialisation)	191	185	912	787	2076
Admitted to the competition and qualification assessment	173	160	821	687	1841
Successfully passed a test of knowledge in the field of law and in the specialisation of the relevant court	132	134	703	619	1588
Successfully passed the cognitive abilities test	105	98	507	410	1120
Successfully completed practical assignment	67	83	452	255	857
Ranking of candidates has been approved	43	60	113		216
Recognised as winners of the competition and recommended for the appointment	42	55	81		178
Interviews are ongoing	Completed	Completed	376

 

In April, the Commission conducted interviews with 37 candidates for the positions of judges at the general courts of appeal:

- 14 candidates have confirmed the ability to administer justice (for the Dnipro Court of Appeal – 2,  the Kyiv Court of Appeal – 4, for the Lviv Court of Appeal – 2, the Mykolaiv Court of Appeal – 3, and for the Kharkiv Court of Appeal – 3);

- interviews with 17 candidates will be held by the plenary session of the Commission (for the Dnipro Court of Appeal – 1, the Kyiv Court of Appeal – 2, the Lviv Court of Appeal – 7, the Odesa Court of Appeal – 2, the Kharkiv Court of Appeal – 4, for the Sumy Court of Appeal –1).

 

The Commission has received applications from 215 candidates expressing their intention to apply for the position of judge in the courts included in the third group of courts during the first stage of the competition to fill vacant positions of judges in the general courts of appeal, of whom:

• 23 to the Vinnytsia Court of Appeal;
• 22 to the Volyn Court of Appeal;
• 28 to the Ivano-Frankivsk Court of Appeal;
• 13 to the Kropyvnytskyi Court of Appeal;
• 16 to the Poltava Court of Appeal;
• 23 to the Rivne Court of Appeal;
• 29 to the Ternopil Court of Appeal;
• 4 to the Kherson Court of Appeal;
• 18 to the Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal;
• 25 to the Cherkasy Court of Appeal;
• 14 to the Chernivtsi Court of Appeal.

[more] – in Ukrainian

 

 

Competition to the High Anti-Corruption Court

On April 06, 2026, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine took a decision approving the Initial Training Programme for judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court, in particular its Appeals Chamber. By the Commission’s Decision of April 06, 2026, a temporary panel was established to determine the results of the special background check and to conduct the second stage, “Review of dossiers and interviews”, of the qualification assessment of 22 candidates for the position of judge of the High Anti-Corruption Court.

On April 24, 2026, the Commission, comprising the temporary panel, commenced interviews and the determination of the results of the qualification assessment of candidates for vacant positions of judges within the competition for the High Anti-Corruption Court. Based on the results of the session, 4 candidates confirmed their ability to administer justice in the High Anti-Corruption Court. Interviews are ongoing.

[more] – in Ukrainian

 

 

Competition to Specialised Circuit Administrative Court and Specialised Administrative Court of Appeal

On April 08, 2026, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine took a decision approving the coded and decoded results of the testing on knowledge of the history of Ukrainian statehood, held on April 07, 2026 as part of the competitions announced by the Commission Decisions No. 193/zp-25 and No. 194/zp-25 of October 29, 2025.

194 candidates for the positions of judges of the Specialised Circuit Administrative Court and/or the Specialised Administrative Court of Appeal, who successfully passed the testing on knowledge of the history of Ukrainian statehood, have been admitted to the second stage of the qualification exam – the cognitive abilities testing.

On April 15, 2026, the Commission took a decision approving the coded and decoded results of the testing of cognitive abilities held on April 14, 2026.

The following candidates have been admitted to the third stage of the qualification exam (testing of general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge in the specialisation of the relevant court):

112 candidates for the positions of judges of the Specialised Circuit Administrative Court;

68 candidates for the positions of judges of the Specialised Administrative Court of Appeal.

The third stage of the qualification exam for these competitions was also scheduled for April 15, 2026.

On April 27 and 28, 2026, the third stage of the qualification exam took place (testing of general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge in the specialisation of the relevant court).

On April 27, 2026, 67 candidates completed the testing on general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge in the specialisation of the Specialised Administrative Court of Appeal as part of the competition to fill vacant positions of judges at the Specialised Administrative Court of Appeal (1 candidate withdrew from the competition prior to the testing).

The coded results of the testing for 66 candidates have been established (1 candidate did not attend the testing):

1) failed to achieve the passing score – 4 candidates;

2) achieved the passing score – 62 candidates.

On April 28, 2026, 111 candidates completed the testing on general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge in the specialisation of the Specialised Circuit Administrative Court as part of the competition to fill vacant positions of judges at the Specialised Circuit Administrative Court (1 candidate withdrew from the competition prior to the testing).

The coded results of the testing for 110 candidates have been established (1 candidate failed to appear for the testing):

1) failed to achieve the passing score – 8 candidates;

2) achieved the passing score – 102 candidates.

On April 29, 2026, the Commission took a decision approving the coded and decoded results of the testing on general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge in the specialisation of the relevant court.

The following number of candidates were admitted to the fourth stage of the qualification exam (completion of the practical assignment in the specialisation of the relevant court):

- 102 candidates for the position of judge of the Specialised Circuit Administrative Court (in Ukrainian);

- 62 candidates for the position of judge of the Specialised Administrative Court of Appeal (in Ukrainian).

[more]

 

 

Secondments

4 notifications from the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine on secondments were received.

The Commission considered the issues of secondments of judges:

• To 20 courts due to excessive judicial workload;
• From 3 courts due to changes in the territorial jurisdiction of court cases.

It was recommended that judges be seconded to the following courts:

• Amur-Nyzhnodniprovskyi District Court of Dnipro City (1 judge);
• Commercial Court of Kyiv Oblast (4 judges);
• Lychakivskyi District Court of Lviv City (1 judge);
• Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv City (2 judges).

 

Qualification assessment

for suitability of a judge for his/her position held and in connection with the imposition of a disciplinary sanction

The results of the qualification assessment of 3 judges have been established:

• Nataliіa Dobrivska, a judge of the Circuit Administrative Court of Kyiv City – is not suitable for the position held;
• Vitalii Nikushyn, a judge of the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn District Court of Kyiv Oblast – is not suitable for the position held;
• Serhii Traskovskyi, a judge of the Iziaslav District Court of Khmelnytskyi Oblast – is suitable for the position held.

The assessment of 4 judges was terminated due to dismissal from the position of judge:

• Oleksandr Dziuba, a judge of the Dniprovskyi District Court of Kyiv City;
• Serhii Kononenko, a judge of the Podilskyi District Court of Poltava City;
• Dmytro Makharynets, a judge of the Rivne Circuit Administrative Court;
• Tetiana Shubochkina, a judge of the Siverskodonetskyi City Court of Luhansk Oblast.

 

Data on the accounting of judges’ positions

The following data are included in the accounts:

on the establishment of 17 new vacant positions of judges:

in local courts - 9:

• Berdychiv City-Raion Court of Zhytomyr Oblast (subparagraph 4 of paragraph 16¹ of Section XV “Transitional Provisions” of the Constitution of Ukraine [1]);
• Fastiv City-Raion Court of Kyiv Oblast (subparagraph 4 of paragraph 16¹ of Section XV “Transitional Provisions” of the Constitution of Ukraine [1]);
• Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City-Raion Court of Odesa Oblast (paragraph 3 of part six of Article 126 of the Constitution of Ukraine [1]);
• Rivne City Court of Rivne Oblast (resignation [1]);
• Darnytskyi District Court of Kyiv City (resignation [1]);
• Commercial Court of Lviv Oblast (paragraph 3 of part six of Article 126 of the Constitution of Ukraine [1]);
• Donetsk Circuit Administrative Court (resignation [1]);
• Odesa Circuit Administrative Court (resignation [1]);
• Borznia District Court of Chernihiv Oblast (appointment to the position of judge of the court of appeal [1]);

in courts of appeal – 8:

• Zhytomyr Court of Appeal (resignation [1]);
• Kyiv Court of Appeal (resignation [1]);
• Kropyvnytskyi Court of Appeal (resignation [1]);
• Lviv Court of Appeal (resignation [1]);
• Mykolaiv Court of Appeal (resignation [1]);
• Poltava Court of Appeal (resignation [1]);
• Shostyi Administrative of Appeal (resignation [2]).

 

on the filling of 3 vacant positions:

in the general courts of appeal – 3.

The records include data on reinstatement to the position of judge:

Fortechnyi District Court of Kropyvnytskyi City [1].

[more] – in Ukrainian

 

 

Sessions

36 sessions were held, of which:

• in plenary composition – 10;
• in chamber composition – 5;
• in Panel composition – 21.

[more] – in Ukrainian

 

128 decisions of the Commission were adopted, of which:

• on selection and appointment of judges – 3;
• on transfer (secondment) of judges – 25;
• on the verification of declarations of family ties and the integrity of judge (candidate for the position of a judge) – 4;
• on qualification assessment of judges – 7;
• on conduction of selection for filling positions of judges in the high specialised courts – 21;
• on conduction of selection for filling positions of judges in the courts of appeal – 51;
• on general issues – 17.

[more] – in Ukrainian

 

 

Participation in the events

April 01, 2026 – a meeting at the Government House chaired by T. Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, to discuss the key indicators of Chapter 23 “Justice” of Cluster 1. In particular, this involves reviewing the procedures for vetting the integrity of judges of the Supreme Court and other high courts, the selection procedures for the Supreme Court, as well as the urgent expansion of the composition of the commission responsible for selecting members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, with the substantial involvement of independent experts nominated by international partners.

April 07, 2026 – meeting between members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine and staff of its secretariat with representatives of the 3*E4U Project (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GIZ) to discuss and agree on a shared vision regarding the Commission’s needs arising from the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap in 2026–2027, as well as institutional issues that must be taken into account at the relevant stages of implementation.

April 13–15, 2026 – study visit by a Ukrainian delegation to Paris (French Republic), organised by the EU Project “Pravo-Justice” to examine mechanisms for implementing the rule of law standards and to study best practices in the field of justice in EU countries.

April 17, 2026 – a coordination meeting to resolve differences regarding the draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On the approval of the action plan for the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations, as set out in the Report on Ukraine’s progress within the framework of the 2025 EU Enlargement Package”.

April 22, 2026 – monthly meeting with representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) to assess the state of implementation of Chapters 3 and 4 of Ukraine Facility Plan.

 

Litigation

The Commission’s interests were represented in 42 hearings of the Supreme Court.

The Administrative Cassation Court of the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Commission as follows:

1. 1. 1. Cases No. 990/207/25 – claim filed by V.V. Sahaidak; No. 990/162/25 – claim filed by
         D.M. Hurin; No. 990/57/25 – claim filed by A.V. Maltyz seeking to declare the decisions unlawful and annul them, and to compel certain actions (competition to the courts of appeal: approval of qualification exam results).
      2. Case No. 990/560/25 – claim filed by A.V. Balabko seeking to declare the decision unlawful and annul it, and to compel certain actions (competition to the courts of appeal: interview).
      3. Cases No. 990/517/25 – claim filed by Y.O. Savenkov; No. 990/429/25 – claim filed by
         O.M. Kolesnikova; No. 990/522/25 – claim filed by O.M. Sikan; No. 990/455/25 – claim filed by B.Z. Zaplitnyi; No. 990/504/25 – claim filed by O.M. Burtovyi; No. 990/428/25 – claim filed by D.Y. Sukhotska; No. 990/492/25 – claim filed by T.O. Yevchuk seeking to declare the decisions unlawful and to compel certain actions (selection procedure: qualification exam).
      4. Case No. 990/7/26 – claim filed by O.A. Soproniuk seeking to declare the decision unlawful and annul it, and to compel certain actions (selection procedure: interview).

 

By rulings of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court:

• In Cases No. 990/228/25 – claim filed by O.D. Poberezhna; No. 990/165/25 – claim filed by O.M. Konychenko; No. 990/166/25 – claim filed by D.O. Baltak; No. 990/153/25 – claim filed by A.V. Sipaka; No. 990/160/25 – claim filed by L.V. Khrushch; No. 990/219/25 – claim filed by N.M. Yakovenko; No. 990/214/25 – claim filed by Y.P. Kulinich, the position of the Commission was upheld, in particular in cases where the Commission had filed appeals: such appeals were granted, the judgments of the courts of first instance were set aside, new judgments were rendered dismissing the claims, and the claimants’ appeals were dismissed (competition to the courts of appeal: approval of the results of the practical assignment);
• In Case No. 990/305/25 – claim filed by R.I. Brehei, the claimant’s appeal against the judgment of the Administrative Cassation Court of the Supreme Court dated 10.12.2025 (whereby the claim was dismissed) was dismissed (public information);
• In Case No. 990/32/24 – claim filed by P.V. Vovk, the claimant’s appeal against the judgment of the Administrative Cassation Court of the Supreme Court dated 15.09.2025 (whereby the claim was dismissed) was dismissed (obligation to perform certain actions).

 

Document flow

 Documents were processed:

• 3 692 – incoming documents;
• 3 128 – outgoing documents.

3 128 inquiries and appeals were reviewed:

• 18 lawyer’s requests;
• 73 requests for information;
• 71 appeals;
• 3 530 other inquiries.

 

Assistance in the implementation of judicial career procedures will be gladly provided, and proposals for improving Commission’s work will be considered!

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