Supreme Court Judge Oleksandra Yanovska took part in the 44th CEPEJ Plenary Meeting

Supreme Court Judge of the Criminal Cassation Court Oleksandra Yanovska joined the 44th Plenary Meeting of the European Commission on the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), which took place on 4-5 June 2025.

The meeting discussed key issues related to the digital transformation of justice, including the use of videoconferencing. In her speech, the judge emphasised that what until recently was a tool for the convenience of the parties has become a matter of survival for justice in the context of a full-scale war in Ukraine.

"Despite the daily threats, destroyed infrastructure and significant staff losses, Ukrainian courts have not stopped working," she said, stressing that the system is not only functioning but also developing, particularly in the digital dimension.

The speaker informed the participants of the event about the establishment of a Joint Working Group in 2024 with the participation of experts from CEPEJ, the Supreme Court, the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine, the High Council of Justice and the Council of Judges of Ukraine to develop solutions to improve the efficiency of justice both during the war and in the future. A draft of the CEPEJ final report has already been prepared, and the Ukrainian side is actively working on it.

Special attention was paid to new technological solutions being implemented in Ukraine. In particular, the Database of Legal Positions of the Supreme Court updated in 2025, which operates using generative artificial intelligence, as well as Supreme LAB, a new service for searching for cases in different jurisdictions of the Supreme Court.

Speaking about videoconferencing, the judge stressed that for Ukraine it is not only a matter of convenience, but also a tool for protecting basic rights. Participants in court proceedings are often located in the war zone, in the temporarily occupied territories or on the front line. Therefore, the possibility of remote participation in court hearings is vital. At the same time, the introduction of such technologies should be carried out within the framework of the rule of law, with due process guarantees and judicial independence.

"Ukraine is fighting not only for its territory, but also for its values. And we are confident that together we will preserve and improve the justice system," the judge said in her closing remarks.

We would also like to inform you that translations of the main documents adopted as a result of the meeting will soon be published on the Supreme Court's website.