The OPPOSITION BLOC faction in parliament supported a constitutional amendment on the judicial reform, because these changes, after the transition period, could ensure judicial independence from the President and the Verkhovna Rada, expand citizens' access to justice and create the basis for a fair trial. At the same time, the OPPOSITION BLOC does not support the changes to the Constitution on decentralization proposed by the government as these changes do not serve the purposes of decentralization, but rather strengthen the presidential vertical. This opinion was shared in an interview with Sehodnya.ua by MP Serhiy Lovochkin, one of the leaders of the OPPOSITION BLOC.

The OPPOSITION BLOC has consistently supported an effective judicial reform. Our goal is to improve people's access to justice, a fair trial and a greater judicial independence from the executive branch. In the meantime, the bill on judicial system and status of judges adopted by the coalition (this bill was passed on June 2, prior to the vote for the Constitutional amendments as regards the judiciary), which we did not support, increases the dependence of the judiciary on the executive branch. The OPPOSITION BLOC does not accept this as it increases the possibility to influence the court and, accordingly, pass judgments required by the government,” Lovochkin said.

According to him, the Opposition Bloc sees no alternative to the Minsk agreements, and yet it does not see the link between the implementation of the Minsk agreements and the adoption of decentralization in the version proposed by the government. “The decentralization with prefects appointed from Kiev, in our view, is no decentralization. And those two lines in the law that are called to regulate the special status of Donbas, are not perceived by Ukraine’s counterparts in the negotiations. Therefore the draft amendments to the Constitution on decentralization are not a solution that would promote peace and reintegration of Donbas. The OPPOSITION BLOC stands for real decentralization that would give equal rights and real autonomy to all regions of Ukraine. At the same time, we propose to pass the law on special economic status of Donbas, which would provide broad opportunities for the development of those areas, ensure the rebuilding of war-torn infrastructure, attract investment and promote rapid normalization of people’s lives,” Lovochkin concluded.