Constitutional crisis in Ukraine in 2020

There was a constitutional crisis in Ukraine from 27 October until 25 December 2020, with an aftermath until about May 2022. On 27 October 2020, decision No. 13-r/2020 of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU) invalidated much of Ukraine's 2014 anti-corruption reform as unconstitutional. The resulting situation made it almost impossible to effectively investigate and prosecute judges (including those on Constitutional Court itself) and other public officials for financial corruption (such as bribery). In response to the highly controversial ruling, the legislative and executive branches of the government of Ukraine, aided by international organisations such as the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, made quick efforts to remedy the situation with the new Law No. 1079-IX of 15 December 2020, restoring the functioning of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).

In the aftermath, there was a confrontation between the executive and judicial branch of the government, wherein the legislative branch played a conciliatory role. The Supreme Court decided on 14 July 2021 to reverse a decree by the president to suspend the head of the Constitutional Court. The Verkhovna Rada, the Parliament of Ukraine, attempted to resolve the tensions between the Court and the Presidency by establishing the Ethics Council on 5 August 2021 to reform the appointment process for judicial bodies such as the High Council of Justice with international guidance and oversight, but its functioning has been hindered by internal resistance to reform. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine since 24 February 2022 complicated matters, while the declaration of martial law in Ukraine on the same day offered some means to take emergency measures for pressing legal issues. Tensions abated when the term of the CCU 's head justice expired in May 2022, and he illegally left the country.