President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio. The Head of State thanked for the fruitful cooperation. In particular, the Venice Commission provided more than 150 conclusions and expert assessments on draft laws and laws of Ukraine on the judiciary, the Anticorruption Court, etc.
The parties focused on the constitutional crisis in Ukraine caused by the decision of the Constitutional Court of October 27, which effectively "nullified" the entire anticorruption system that our country has built in recent years with the support of the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that as the Head of State he could not allow a situation when a body to assess the conformity of the Constitution makes illegal decisions that destroy the system of anticorruption bodies, including NABU, NACP and the Supreme Anticorruption Court.
"My priority now is to preserve the continuous functioning of NACP and anticorruption bodies, and increase the efficiency of their work," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.
Gianni Buquicchio offered the expertise of the Venice Commission in this difficult situation. He also stressed that in no case can such important issues as the existence of the Supreme Anticorruption Court, the activities of the Deposit Guarantee Fund, and land reform be put at risk.
The President of the Venice Commission noted that the common goal today is to restore confidence in the judiciary and especially in the Constitutional Court.
The President of Ukraine invited the Venice Commission to work together on a broad judicial reform.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also remembers the very clear, firm position of the Venice Commission on the illegal annexation of Crimea.
"Thanks to you and our international partners, I believe that Crimea will be returned," the President said.