Editing Ukraine (section)

=== Courts and law enforcement ===
{{Main|Judicial system of Ukraine|Law enforcement in Ukraine}}
[[File:Klov Palace. Listed ID 80-382-0462. - 8 Pylypa Orlyka Street, Pechersk Raion, Kiev. - Pechersk 28 09 13 396.jpg|thumb|[[Klov Palace|Klovsky Palace]], seat of the [[Supreme Court of Ukraine]]]]
[[Martial law in Ukraine|Martial law]] was declared when Russia invaded in February 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine's president declared martial law after Russia's attack. But what is it? |website=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/02/24/martial-law-ukraine-russia-attack/6925581001/}}</ref> and continues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine President Submits Bill Extending Martial Law Until Late April |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/ukraines-president-volodymyr-zelenskiy-submits-bill-extending-martial-law-until-late-april-2823166 |access-date=31 March 2022 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-22 |title=Ukrainian Parliament Extends Martial Law For 90 Days |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-martial-law-extended/31862325.html |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |language=en}}</ref> The courts enjoy legal, financial and constitutional freedom guaranteed by Ukrainian law since 2002. Judges are largely well protected from dismissal (except for gross misconduct). Court justices are appointed by presidential decree for an initial period of five years, after which Ukraine's Supreme Council confirms their positions for life. Although there are still problems, the system is considered to have been much improved since Ukraine's independence in 1991. The Supreme Court is regarded as an independent and impartial body, and has on several occasions ruled against the Ukrainian government. The [[World Justice Project]] ranks Ukraine 66 out of 99 countries surveyed in its annual Rule of Law Index.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://data.worldjusticeproject.org/#/index/UKR |title=WJP Rule of Law Index® 2018–2019 |website=data.worldjusticeproject.org |access-date=28 April 2014 |archive-date=29 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429071718/http://data.worldjusticeproject.org/#/index/UKR |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Prosecutor]]s in Ukraine have greater powers than in most European countries, and according to the [[European Commission for Democracy through Law]] "the role and functions of the Prosecutor's Office is not in accordance with [[Council of Europe]] standards".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrne |first=Peter |date=25 March 2010 |title=Prosecutors fail to solve biggest criminal cases |work=[[Kyiv Post]] |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/news/business/bus_focus/detail/62548/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331202047/http://www.kyivpost.com/news/business/bus_focus/detail/62548/ |archive-date=31 March 2010}}</ref> The [[conviction rate]] is over 99%,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Українські суди майже не виносять виправдувальних вироків |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/03/8/6985181/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=[[Ukrainska Pravda]] |language=uk}}</ref> equal to the conviction rate of the Soviet Union, with suspects often being incarcerated for long periods before trial.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Byrne |first=Peter |date=25 March 2010 |title=Jackpot |work=[[Kyiv Post]] |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/62564 |access-date=31 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329145022/http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/62564 |archive-date=29 March 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Будинок уряду України, Київ.JPG|thumb|The [[Government of Ukraine|Cabinet of Ministers]] building]]

In 2010, [[Viktor Yanukovych|President Yanukovych]] formed an expert group to make recommendations on how to "clean up the current mess and adopt a law on court organisation".<ref name=":7" /> One day later, he stated "We can no longer disgrace our country with such a court system."<ref name=":7" /> The criminal judicial system and the prison system of Ukraine remain quite punitive.<ref name="United States Department of State 2021">{{cite web |title=Ukraine |website=United States Department of State |date=4 November 2021 |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/ukraine/ |access-date=31 March 2022}}</ref>

Since 2010 court proceedings can be held in Russian by mutual consent of the parties. Citizens unable to speak Ukrainian or Russian may use their native language or the services of a translator.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Interfax-Ukraine |date=2011-12-15 |title=Constitutional Court rules Russian, other languages can be used in Ukrainian courts – Dec. 15, 2011 |url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/constitutional-court-rules-russian-other-languages-118997.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=[[Kyiv Post]]}}<br />{{Cite web |title=З подачі "Регіонів" Рада дозволила російську у судах |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2009/06/23/4045262/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=[[Ukrainska Pravda]] |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://for-ua.com/ukraine/2010/07/29/113049.html |title=Російська мова стала офіційною в українських судах |website=for-ua.com}}</ref> Previously all court proceedings had to be held in Ukrainian.<ref name="United States Department of State 2021"/>

Law enforcement agencies are controlled by the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine|Ministry of Internal Affairs]]. They consist primarily of the [[National Police of Ukraine|national police force]] and various specialised units and agencies such as the [[State Border Guard Service of Ukraine|State Border Guard]] and the [[Ukrainian Sea Guard|Coast Guard]] services. Law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, faced criticism for their heavy handling of the 2004 Orange Revolution. Many thousands of police officers were stationed throughout the capital, primarily to dissuade protesters from challenging the state's authority but also to provide a quick reaction force in case of need; most officers were armed.<ref name="NYTSBU">{{cite news |last1=Chivers |first1=C. J. |title=How Top Spies in Ukraine Changed the Nation's Path |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/17/world/europe/how-top-spies-in-ukraine-changed-the-nations-path.html |access-date=15 June 2018 |date=17 January 2005}}</ref>