Though a new concept has been formulated for the exercise of voting rights by citizens of Ukraine which provides for fundamental changes to the electoral system model, the restated Code of Administrative Judicial Procedure of Ukraine (hereinafter – CAJP of Ukraine) does not contain any provisions to regulate the relations in the case of review of decisions, actions or omissions of the Central Election Commission (hereinafter – CEC) after the process of elections or an all-Ukrainian referendum is completed. So far, scholars have not appropriately focused on the study of various aspects pertaining to appeals against decisions, actions or omissions of this subject of public administration, in particular, after it has established the results of elections (or a referendum). Hence arises the need of elaborating a uniform approach which would ensure the possibility of and the procedure for filing an appeal to court against the results of elections or an all-Ukrainian referendum established by the CEC, after expiration of the period for appeal and provided there are grounds to believe that these results are unreliable. The purpose of this article is to find the best possible ways for bridging the gaps in legislation based on the study of the specifics of appeals against decisions, actions or omissions of the CEC with regard to results of elections or an all-Ukrainian referendum established by the Commission under the restated CAJP of Ukraine, and also to offer the author’s own vision about the mechanisms of protection of an individual and reinstatement of his/her rights in relevant processes. The article notes that there are gaps in the current Ukrainian legislation regulating legal relations in the event of an appeal against decisions, actions or omissions of the CEC, in particular, unavailability of the legal procedure for checking whether a person elected by way of elections complied with requirements of law at the time of his/her election, as well as for verification in the future whether there are any gross violations of the electoral legislation which resulted in the establishment of unreliable results of the elections and indicate that the person concerned may not be considered legitimately elected. The author suggests considering amendments to national legislation by supplementing it with certain provisions for appeal against results of elections and an all-Ukrainian referendum. In case of such legal disputes, with the aim of implementing efficient mechanisms for reinstatement of breached rights and interests of elections (referendum) participants, there arises a need that the competence of administrative court to exercise control over the lawfulness of the results established by the CEC be expanded beyond these processes.

List of legal documents

Legislation

1. Dokument Kopenhahenskoi narady Konferentsii shchodo liudskoho vymiru NBSIe (OBSIe) [Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE (OSCE)] vid 29 chervnia 1990 r. URL: http://zakon2.rada.gov. ua/laws/show/994_082 (accessed: 18.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

2. Kodeks administratyvnoho sudochynstva Ukrainy [The Code of Administrative Judicial Procedure of Ukraine]: Zakon Ukrainy [Law of Ukraine] vid 6 lypnia 2005 r. № 2747-IV. URL: http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2747-15/ed20170803 (accessed: 18.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

3. Kodeks administratyvnoho sudochynstva Ukrainy [The Code of Administrative Judicial Procedure of Ukraine]: Zakon Ukrainy [Law of Ukraine] vid 6 lypnia 2005 r. № 2747-IV (u redaktsii Zakonu Ukrainy [As Amended by the Law of Ukraine] vid 3 zhovtnia 2017 r. № 2147-VIII). URL: http://zakon0.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2747-15 (accessed: 18.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

4. Pershyi protokol do Konventsii pro zakhyst prav liudyny i osnovopolozhnykh svobod [First Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms] vid 20 bereznia 1952 r.: ratyfikovano Zakonom Ukrainy [Ratified by the Law of Ukraine] vid 17 lypnia 1997 r. № 475/97-VR. URL: http://zakon5.rada.gov.ua/ rada/show/994_535 (accessed: 19.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

5. Pro Tsentralnu vyborchu komisiiu [On the Central Election Commission]: Zakon Ukrainy [Law of Ukraine] vid 30 chervnia 2004 r. № 1932-IV. URL: http://zakon3.rada. gov.ua/laws/show/1932-15 (accessed: 18.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

6. Pro vybory narodnykh deputativ Ukrainy [On Elections of People’s Deputies of Ukraine]: Zakon Ukrainy [Law of Ukraine] vid 17 lystopada 2011 r. № 475/97-VR. URL: http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/4061-17 (accessed: 20.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

7. Rezoliutsiia 1862 (2012) Parlamentskoi Asamblei Rady Yevropy “Funktsionuvannia demokratychnykh instytutsii v Ukraini” [Resolution 1862 (2012) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe “Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Ukraine”] vid 26 sichnia 2012 r. URL: http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/994_a57 (accessed: 22.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

8. Spilnyi vysnovok Yevropeiskoi Komisii “Za demokratiiu cherez pravo” (Venetsianska komisiia) ta Orhanizatsii z bezpeky ta spivrobitnytstva v Yevropi / Biuro z pytan demokratychnykh instytutiv ta prav liudyny (OBSIe/BDIPL) vid 17 zhovtnia 2011 r. № 635/2011 shchodo zakonoproektu “Pro vybory narodnykh deputativ Ukrainy”: pryiniatyi Radoiu za demokratychni vybory na 38-mu zasidanni (Venetsiia, 13 zhovtnia 2011 r.) ta Venetsianskoiu Komisiieiu na 88-i plenarnii sesii (Venetsiia, 14-15 zhovtnia 2011 r.) na osnovi komentariv, yaki nadaly Srdzhan Darmanovych (chlen Venetsianskoi Komisii vid Chornohorii), Aivars Endzins (chlen Venetsianskoi Komisii vid Latvii), Don Bisson (iurydychnyi ekspert OBSIe/BDIPL) [Joint Opinion of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe / Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) dated October 17, 2011 № 635/2011 on the Draft Law “On Elections of People’s Deputies of Ukraine”: adopted by the Council for Democratic Elections at its 38th Session (Venice, October 13, 2011) and the Venice Commission at its 88th Plenary Session (Venice, October 14-15, 2011) Based on the Comments by Srdjan Darmanovic (Venice Commission Member from Montenegro), Aivars Endzins (Venice Commission Member from Latvia), Don Bisson (Legal Expert of OSCE/ODIHR)]. URL: http://zakon0.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/en/994_a54 (accessed: 20.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

9. Vyborchyi kodeks Ukrainy [The Election Code of Ukraine]: proekt Zakonu Ukrainy [Draft Law of Ukraine] vid 2 zhovtnia 2015 r. reiestratsiinyi № 3112-1. URL: http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=56671 (accessed: 23.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

10. Vysnovok Yevropeiskoi komisii “Za demokratiiu cherez pravo” (Venetsianska komisiia) ta OBSIe/BDIPL shchodo Zakonu Ukrainy “Pro vybory narodnykh deputativ Ukrainy” [Opinion of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) and OSCE/ODIHR on the Law of Ukraine “On Elections of People’s Deputies of Ukraine”] vid 2 bereznia 2006 r. URL: http://zakon0.rada.gov.ua/laws/ show/994_749 (accessed: 20.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

Cases

11. Gitonas and others v Greece App no 18747/91; 19376/92; 19379/92 (ECtHR, 1 July 1997) (in English).

12. Postanova Vyshchoho administratyvnoho sudu Ukrainy [Resolution of the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine] vid 2 zhovtnia 2017 r. u spravi № P/800/187/17. URL: http://reyestr.court.gov.ua/Review/69423591 (accessed: 21.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

13. Postanova Vyshchoho administratyvnoho sudu Ukrainy [Resolution of the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine] vid 12 veresnia 2013 r. u spravi № 800/551/13. URL: http://reyestr.court.gov.ua/Review/33521250 (accessed: 22.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

14. Pro praktyku zastosuvannia administratyvnymy sudamy polozhen Kodeksu admi nistratyvnoho sudochynstva Ukrainy pid chas rozhliadu sporiv shchodo pravovidnosyn, poviazanykh z vyborchym protsesom [On the Practice of Application by Administrative Courts of Provisions of the Code of Administrative Judicial Procedure of Ukraine While Considering Disputes with Regard to Legal Relations Concerning the Election Process]: postanova Plenumu Vyshchoho admi nistratyvnoho sudu Ukrainy [Resolution of the Plenum of the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine] vid 1 lystopada 2013 r. № 15. URL: http://www.vasu.gov.ua/plenum/post_plenum/plenum_2013_11_01_n15 (accessed: 19.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

15. Rishennia Konstytutsiinoho Sudu Ukrainy vid 17 zhovtnia 2002 r. № 17-rp/2002 u spravi za konstytutsiinym podanniam 50 narodnykh deputativ Ukrainy shchodo ofitsiinoho tlumachennia polozhen statei 75, 82, 84, 91, 104 Konstytutsii Ukrainy (shchodo povnovazhnosti Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy) [Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Dated October 17, 2002 № 17-rp/2002 in the Case following the Constitutional Petition of 50 People’s Deputies of Ukraine Concerning Official Interpretation of Provisions of Articles 75, 82, 84, 91, 104 of the Constitution of Ukraine (Concerning the Powers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine)] (sprava № 1-6/2002). URL: http://zakon5. rada.gov.ua/laws/show/v017p710-02 (accessed: 22.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

16. Rishennia Konstytutsiinoho Sudu Ukrainy vid 27 zhovtnia 1999 r. № 9-rp/99 u spravi za konstytutsiinym podanniam Ministerstva vnutrishnikh sprav Ukrainy shchodo ofitsiinoho tlumachennia polozhen chastyny tretoi statti 80 Konstytutsii Ukrainy (sprava pro deputatsku nedotorkannist) [Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Dated October 27, 1999 № 9-rp/99 in the Case Following the Constitutional Petition of the Internal Affairs Ministry of Ukraine Concerning Official Interpretation of Provisions of Part Three, Article 80 of the Constitution of Ukraine (Case of Parliamentary Immunity)] (sprava № 1-15/99). URL: http://zakon5.rada.gov.ua/laws/ show/v009p710-99 (accessed: 22.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

17. Rishennia Konstytutsiinoho Sudu Ukrainy vid 3 hrudnia 1998 r. № 17-rp/98 u spravi za konstytutsiinym podanniam narodnykh deputativ Ukrainy shchodo vidpovidnosti Konstytutsii Ukrainy (konstytutsiinosti) Postanovy Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy “Pro vnesennia zmin do Rehlamentu Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy” (sprava pro utvorennia fraktsii u Verkhovnii Radi Ukrainy) [Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Dated December 3, 1998 № 17-rp/98 in the Case Following the Constitutional Petition of People’s Deputies of Ukraine Concerning the Compliance with the Constitution of Ukraine (Constitutionality) of the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine” (Case of Forming of Factions in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine)] (sprava № 1-40/98). URL: http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/ru/v017p710-98 (accessed: 22.12.2017) (in Uk rainian).

18. Ukhvala Konstytutsiinoho Sudu Ukrainy vid 24 kvitnia 2013 r. № 17-u/2013 pro vidmovu u vidkrytti konstytutsiinoho provadzhennia u spravi za konstytutsiinym podanniam 61 narodnoho deputata Ukrainy shchodo ofitsiinoho tlumachennia polozhen chastyny pershoi statti 76, chastyn pershoi, tretoi, chetvertoi statti 79, chastyn druhoi, chetvertoi statti 81, chastyn druhoi, p’iatoi statti 124, punktu 9 chastyny tretoi statti 129 Konstytutsii Ukrainy [Ruling of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Dated April 24, 2013 № 17-у/2013 Refusing to Commence Constitutional Proceedings in the Case Following the Constitutional Petition of 61 People’s Deputies of Ukraine Concerning Official Interpretation of Provisions of Part One of Article 76, Parts One, Three and Four of Article 79, Parts Two and Four of Article 81, Parts Two and Five of Article 124, Clause 9 of Part Three of Article 129 of the Constitution of Ukraine] (sprava № 2-20/2013). URL: http://zakon5.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/v017u710-13 (accessed: 22.12.2017) (in Ukrainian).

Bibliography

Websites

19. ‘CDL-AD(2002)023rev-ukr Kodeks nalezhnoi praktyky u vyborchykh sporakh: Kerivni pryntsypy ta poiasniuvalna dopovid – ukhvaleni Venetsianskoiu komisiieiu na 52-i sesii (Venetsiia, 18-19 zhovtnia 2002 r.)’ [‘Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters: Guidelines and Explanatory Report – Adopted by the Venice Commission at its 52nd Session (Venice, October 18-19, 2002)’] (Council of Europe, 23 Traven 2003) <http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDLAD( 2002)023rev-ukr> accessed 21 December 2017 (in Ukrainian).

20. ‘Konstytutsiia Hretsii (9 chervnia 1975 roku)’ [‘The Constitution of Greece (June 9, 1975)’] (Biblioteka “Konstytutsiina Asambleia”) <http://nbuviap.gov.ua/asambleya/ constitutions.php> accessed 21 December 2017 (in Ukrainian).

21. ‘Konstytutsiia Lytovskoi Respubliky: pryiniata hromadianamy Lytovskoi Respubliky na referendumi [‘The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania: Adopted by Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania by Referendum’] vid 25 zhovtnia 1992 r.’ (Verkhovna Rada Ukrainy, viddil informatsiinykh resursiv ta vidkrytykh zakhodiv) <http://lib.rada. gov.ua/static/LIBRARY/catalog/law/lit_konst1.htm> accessed 21 December 2017 (in Ukrainian).