Politics
Moving forward with efforts to rid the judiciary of corruption, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed reform bill into law on Nov. 4 that will restructure the High Qualification Commission of Judges and halve the size of Supreme Court.
Iryna Lutsenko, a Verkovna Rada lawmaker and wife of former Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko, resigned from parliament on Nov. 4, citing poor health. Her husband is currently under investigation for abuse of power and is a key figure in the American impeachment inquiry. He allegedly fed Trump conspiracy theories that laid the basis for Rudy Guiliani’s accusations against the Bidens.
U.S. impeachment inquiry
On Nov. 4, three U.S. House members began releasing full transcripts from last month’s closed door depositions in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald J. Trump. Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, said in the newly released transcripts that she felt threatened by Trump. Read key excerpts from the transcripts here.
Russia’s war against Ukraine
The British Ministry of Defense announced it will extend its military training mission to Ukraine’s Armed Forces until 2023. The program was established in 2014 to help Ukraine’s defense against the Russian annexation of Crimea.
Maruv’s MTV award
Ukrainian singer Maruv won “Best Russian Act” at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards on Nov. 3, which don’t include a category for Ukrainian artists.
Remembering Kateryna Gandziuk
A year after the death of civil rights defender Kateryna Gandziuk, activists staged protests around the country calling for justice in her murder. Police have yet to identify who ordered the killing. See our coverage from Kyiv here.
From the archives
Kyiv Post 25th Anniversary Series: As President Volydomyr Zelensky signs sweeping judicial reforms into law, including a reduction in the Supreme Court from 200 to 100 judges, the Kyiv Post is looking back at longstanding corruption in the courts and earlier reform efforts. Our Apr. 4, 2017 issue included “Supreme Sham?“, profiling failed attempts at reform under President Petro Poroshenko and the less-than-pristine records of judges on the High Council of Justice and the High Qualification Commission.
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