On February 11, 2016, outside the Kiev Administrative Court of Appeals, a rally was held in support of the Communist Party of Ukraine (KPU) and against political repression of dissidents, particularly the Communists.
Protesters held posters with slogans: “No ban on the Communist Party!”, “Fight poverty, not Communists!” and “The real opposition is the Communist Party!”
Protesters demanded an end to the persecution of the Communist Party, and cancellation of the decision of the District Administrative Court of Kiev on termination of its activities.
Today a regular session of the Kiev Administrative Court of Appeals was held on the Communist Party’s appeal against the Ministry of Justice.
The judicial panel reviewed and upheld the recusal of one judge, announced at the previous court session.
After that, the session was adjourned for two weeks.
In the previous session, the Kiev Administrative Court of Appeals adjourned consideration of the Communist Party’s appeal against the District Administrative Court decision to terminate its activities. The reason for the break was the rejection of one of the judges sitting on the panel.
On December 16, 2015, the Kiev District Administrative Court ruled in favor of the claim of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine to terminate the activities of the Communist Party. The reason given for the ban was the alleged discrepancy between the party and the so-called law of “de-communization.”
The Communist Party considers the court’s decision unlawful and groundless, adopted in violation of the rules of substantive and procedural law, and, consequently, subject to repeal by the Court of Appeals in its entirety.
The Venice Commission and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE / ODIHR) concluded that the Ukrainian law “On the condemnation of Communist and National Socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes and ban on their symbols,” No. 317-VIII, does not comply with three principles: legality, legitimacy and the requirements of a democratic society.
Translated by Greg Butterfield
Red Star News + Translations 