Execution of court decisions in Ukraine: reforming the system in terms of the right to a fair trial

Abstract

The article addresses the Ukrainian model of executive proceedings (which was recently updated as a result of constitutional reform in the justice sector) through the prism of the right to a fair trial, guaranteed by paragraph 1 of Art. 6 ECHR. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the pilot judgement of ECtHR «Yuriy Nikolaevich Ivanov v. Ukraine» and the judgement «Burmych v. Ukraine», in which the ECtHR diagnosed a systemic problem of non-enforcement of court decisions where the debtor is the State or state-owned enterprises. The article critically assesses the main consequences of reforming the system and procedures of enforcement of court decisions, in particular: establishing the profession of private bailiffs and transforming the public model of enforcement proceedings into the mixed one, its further decentralization; digitalization of enforcement proceedings by setting up an automated electronic system of executive proceedings, a unified register of debtors and electronic auction systems; introduction of obligatory prepayment of bailiff’s fees by creditor, etc. The article advocates a position according to which the national legislation of Ukraine needs further changes to ensure fulfillment of its international obligations. In particular, it is necessary to provide at national level an effective remedy of the right to a fair trial and execution of court decisions within a reasonable time in accordance with the requirements of Art. 13 ECHR, which should combine preventive and compensatory elements.

Keywords

• right to a fair trial, execution of court decisions, enforcement proceedings, model of enforcement proceedings, bailiffs, private bailiffs, reasonable time of a trial, effective remedies