Ukraine's Constitutional Court Issues Key Rulings: A Summary of Senate Proceedings

Proceedings of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine

According to Конституційний суд: The Constitutional Court of Ukraine, through its senates and judicial panels, has reviewed a series of cases based on constitutional complaints and submissions. The Court issued one ruling, initiated and closed several constitutional proceedings, and determined the procedural forms for other cases. The Court's work is a key mechanism for interpreting the nation's foundational law and assessing the constitutionality of other legal acts.

On March 11, 2026, the First Senate reviewed a case based on the constitutional complaint of Nadia Anatoliivna Trofimova, concerning Article 26 and Article 284 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. Simultaneously, the First Senate issued Ruling No. 2-r(I)/2026 in the case of the constitutional complaint by Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Paderin, which pertained to Article 46 of the Law of Ukraine 'On Higher Education'. The Second Senate reviewed a case based on the constitutional complaint of Tetiana Ivanivna Pomirko regarding Article 303 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.

The Second Senate closed the constitutional proceeding in the case of the constitutional complaint by Nataliia Oleksandrivna Riabets, concerning Article 14-3 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. The Third Panel of Judges of the First Senate initiated constitutional proceedings based on submissions from the Supreme Court, covering Article 7 of the laws on the State Budget for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, as well as Articles 3 and 4 of the Law 'On Court Fees' dated July 8, 2011, No. 3674–VI.

New Constitutional Proceedings and Cases

The Second Panel of Judges of the First Senate initiated a constitutional proceeding in the case of the constitutional complaint by Andrii Volodymyrovych Zvarych, concerning Article 26 and Article 284 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The Panel of Judges of the First Senate definitively refused to initiate proceedings regarding the complaints of Serhii Olehovich Radchuk concerning Article 328 of the Code of Administrative Justice of Ukraine and Leonid Vasylovych Chemodanov concerning Article 5 of the Law 'On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons'.

The First Panel of Judges of the Second Senate initiated a constitutional proceeding in the case of the constitutional complaint by Olena Borysivna Spichak regarding Article 7 of the budget laws for 2022 and 2023, as well as Article 135 of the Law 'On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges'. The Second Panel of Judges of the Second Senate initiated a constitutional proceeding based on a submission from the Supreme Court, concerning Article 46 of the Law 'On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2025' and Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1 dated January 3, 2025.

The Panel of Judges of the Second Senate also definitively refused to initiate a proceeding regarding the complaint of Halyna Mykhailivna Nikitina concerning Article 170 of the Code of Administrative Justice of Ukraine. Additionally, the Panel of Judges of the Second Senate initiated a constitutional proceeding in the case of the constitutional complaint by Andrii Ivanovych Tsyhanenko regarding Article 7 of the Law 'On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2024'.

The Second Senate continues to review cases based on constitutional complaints, including:

• the case of Roman Hryhorovych Chervinskyi regarding Article 615 of the Criminal Procedure Code;
• the case of Serhii Volodymyrovych Hudyrenko regarding Article 307 and Article 309 of the Criminal Procedure Code;
• the case of Serhii Oleksiiovych Hniezdilov regarding Article 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code;
• the case of Volodymyr Ivanovych Keleberda regarding Clause 61 of the Law 'On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges'.

Furthermore, the Second Senate will continue to consider the issue of consolidating cases based on the constitutional complaints of Svitlana Fedorivna Denysova, Tetiana Ivanivna Volkova, Pavlo Volodymyrovych Nevmerzhytskyi, Larysa Mykolaivna Antonovych, and the case of the complaint by Raisa Mykolaivna Voitevych regarding Article 45 of the Law 'On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2025'. The question of initiating a proceeding in the case of the constitutional complaint by PJSC 'Lviv Electric Lamp Plant 'Iskra'' regarding Article 14 of the Law 'On Ensuring the Realization of Housing Rights of Dormitory Residents' will also be considered.

The Second Senate determined written forms of proceedings in the cases of the constitutional complaints by Vitalii Mykhailovych Kryushenko regarding Article 1, Article 2, and Article 4 of the Law 'On Alternative (Non-Military) Service' and Taras Vasylovych Andreiychuk regarding Article 119 of the Labor Code of Ukraine.

The review of cases by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine is crucial for protecting citizens' rights and developing the country's legal system. The initiation of new proceedings demonstrates the Court's active response to appeals from citizens and state authorities, while the closure of proceedings may indicate that certain issues lack grounds for further review. Thus, the Court's activity ensures dynamism in legal application and contributes to the formation of precedent-based practice in Ukraine.