On February 6, 2026, the High Council of Justice hosted a presentation of the results of the activities of the Disciplinary Inspectors Service of the High Council of Justice (DIS) over its first year of operation.
Acting Head of the High Council of Justice Oksana Kvasha recalled that on September 6, 2023, legislative amendments were adopted that supplemented the Law of Ukraine “On the High Council of Justice” with Chapter 6. These changes provided for the establishment of the Disciplinary Inspectors Service to implement the HCJ’s powers regarding disciplinary proceedings against judges.
The DIS is an independent structural unit within the Secretariat of the High Council of Justice. It consists of disciplinary inspectors, the head of the service, his deputy, and staff responsible for organizational support. The Service commenced operations on December 23, 2024, and over the past year has completed the stage of formation and operational adjustment.
Oksana Kvasha expressed gratitude to international partners, in particular the EU Project “Pravo-Justice”, for their consistent organizational support in conducting competitions, training sessions, and workshops for disciplinary inspectors.
Secretary of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court Serhii Pohribnyi emphasized that the trust of the judicial community and society in the entire system of disciplinary liability of judges depends on the principled approach, impartiality, and adherence to high standards by the DIS. He highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between accountability and guarantees of judicial independence in forming a judicial system that citizens can trust.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy Denys Maslov noted that the creation and operation of the DIS is a positive example of successful implementation of legislative changes. He proposed organizing a presentation of the Service’s activities at the Parliamentary Committee. Denys Maslov also informed about ongoing work on draft laws aimed at improving disciplinary and other procedures, as well as refining declarations of integrity and family ties of judges. He recalled that these draft laws received an opinion from the Venice Commission, which, among other things, pointed out the advisability of limiting the range of persons entitled to file complaints against a judge.
Head of the “Judicial Reform” Component of the EU Project “Pravo-Justice III” Volodymyr Chaban noted that Ukraine has successfully completed one of the most difficult tasks — the establishment of the Disciplinary Inspectors Service, which has received a positive assessment under the Ukraine Facility Plan. The European Commission reports have also positively highlighted the efforts of the DIS in processing a large number of disciplinary complaints. He assured continued support for the High Council of Justice, in particular in organizing training for disciplinary inspectors.
Chair of the Competition Commission for the selection of the Head of the Disciplinary Inspectors Service, his deputy and disciplinary inspectors Reda Molienė emphasized that the key task of the Commission was to select the most competent and integrity-driven candidates on the principles of publicity, transparency and objectivity. She also underlined the importance of continuous training and international exchange of experience for forming a unified and sustainable disciplinary practice.
Head of the Disciplinary Inspectors Service of the High Council of Justice Taras Kuzyk informed that from December 23, 2024 to December 31, 2025, the Service received 21921 disciplinary complaints. Of these, 10896 were complaints pending before the Disciplinary Chamber as of the start of the DIS operations, and 11,025 were new disciplinary complaints. Disciplinary inspectors individually and Disciplinary Chambers (based on the inspectors’ conclusions) have examined 10382 complaints. The backlog of unexamined complaints stands at 11539.
He drew attention to a 36% increase in the number of complaints in 2025 compared to 2024, which creates risks of failing to meet procedural deadlines.
Taras Kuzyk noted that the requirement of the EU’s Ukraine Facility program has been fulfilled: by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, 20% of the “old” disciplinary proceedings (complaints) pending as of December 31, 2023 were to be resolved with the involvement of the Disciplinary Inspectors Service. As of December 31, 2025, 2741 complaints have been examined with the participation of disciplinary inspectors, which constitutes 45%.
The speaker outlined the main challenges facing the DIS in 2026. Among them are the examination of priority disciplinary proceedings, fulfilment of the Rule of Law Roadmap requirement to examine 50% of complaints pending as of December 31, 2023, and compliance with the 18-month time limit for disciplinary proceedings. He separately emphasized the need to strengthen the human resources capacity of the Service.
Deputy Head of the DIS Viktoriia Nedybaliuk outlined problematic issues regarding the status of a disciplinary inspector, pointing out the discrepancy between the status of a category “B” civil servant and the scope of powers and high requirements of the position of disciplinary inspector.
She also pointed out the expediency of expanding the powers of a disciplinary inspector, in particular by granting him or her the right to leave complaints unexamined and return them on all grounds stipulated in Article 44 of the Law of Ukraine “On the High Council of Justice” by a single ruling, rather than only on formal grounds. According to her, in 98% of cases the Disciplinary Chambers of the HCJ agree with the conclusions of disciplinary inspectors regarding leaving complaints unexamined, returning them, or refusing to open disciplinary proceedings. This demonstrates an established practice and the high quality of the preliminary examination of complaints.
Disciplinary inspector Valerii Osetrov drew attention to the need to improve the procedural aspects of the DIS operations. He emphasized that the Service performs the role of a procedural filter aimed at optimizing the work of disciplinary bodies and ensuring procedural and budgetary efficiency.
The event was also attended by members of the High Council of Justice, disciplinary inspectors, members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, members of the Competition Commission for the selection of the Head of the Disciplinary Inspectors Service, his deputy and disciplinary inspector, as well as representatives of international projects and programmes and civil society.
Photo: EU Project “Pravo-Justice” and the High Council of Justice