The Council of Europe Hosted a Special Screening of the Documentary ‘In Your Name: Justice in Wartime’

The Council of Europe (Strasbourg, French Republic) hosted a special screening of the documentary film ‘In Your Name: Justice in Wartime,’ produced on the initiative of EU Project Pravo-Justice, implemented by Expertise France, and in cooperation with the High Council of Justice and the Supreme Court.

The event was organised by EU Project Pravo-Justice in cooperation with the Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe and the Supreme Court, with the participation of representatives of Council of Europe Member States, international organisations and Ukrainian civil society.

In his address, Ambassador Mykola Tochytskyi, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, emphasised that it is important not only to make progress with reforms in Ukraine, but also to focus on the human side of justice.

“This documentary reminds us that there are real people behind every reform and every European integration indicator – judges and court staff who work every day under extremely tough conditions. The protagonists of this film are those who go to work every day amid air raids to ensure people have access to justice. Their resilience is an example for the whole Europe,” Ambassador Tochytskyi emphasised.

Vesna Batistić Kos, Head of the EU Delegation to the Council of Europe, also attended the screening. She reaffirmed that the European Union will continue to support Ukraine, noting that this is not only a political choice but also a matter of values.

“Ukraine is not alone. We will remain by its side, supporting its path to victory, reconstruction, and the establishment of a strong, independent state founded on European values,” emphasised the Ambassador.

Ambassador Pap Ndiaye, Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe, highlighted the crucial role of the judiciary in the European future of Ukraine. He also pledged continued support to Ukraine.

“We are building a strong team in Ukraine and launching new programmes to support reforms and the reconstruction process. I am confident that French assistance to Kyiv is not only a manifestation of solidarity, but also a contribution to the stability and security of all of Europe,” said Pap Ndiaye.

Oksana Tsymbrivska, Team Leader at EU Project Pravo-Justice, expressed her sincere gratitude to the Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe for the opportunity to screen the documentary. She emphasised that it was particularly important for the Project team that international partners see this film and realise that supporting the Ukrainian judiciary is essential not only for European integration, but also for Ukraine’s reconstruction and sustainable future.

“More than 159 court houses have been damaged or completely destroyed as a result of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, Ukrainian judges and court staff continue to do their best to ensure that people have access to justice. This deserves profound respect, and it is important that both Ukrainian society and our international partners know about this resilience. We often hear about corruption and mistrust of the judiciary in the news. But how often do we hear stories of dedication, dignity and service to the profession? The film tells five such stories – stories of service to justice. But in fact, there are many more,” emphasised Oksana Tsymbrivska.

Olena Kovbii, a member of the High Council of Justice and the protagonist of the documentary, also attended the screening and participated in the panel discussion ‘The Resilience of Ukrainian Judiciary: Beyond Reports and Reforms’, which took place after the screening. The member of the High Council of Justice emphasised that the war had revealed another dimension of the profession of a judge - not only legal, but also human and civic.

“I would like our partners to see that Ukrainian judges are not merely formal enforcers of procedures, but conscientious individuals willing to risk their own lives for the sake of the state, demonstrating our commitment to doing everything possible. I am not a hero, but my decision to join the Armed Forces is a symbol of responsibility and patriotism. We, as judges, do not hide behind our robes; we stand side by side with others in defending our country,” Olena Kovbii concluded.

Oleksandra Yanovska, justice at the Cassation Criminal Court of the Supreme Court and member of the CEPEJ representing Ukraine, said that since 2014, the Ukrainian judicial system has been under enormous pressure, and with the outbreak of full-scale war, the situation has become even more complicated.

“The system has faced a huge number of challenges: a shortage of judges, power outages, constant risk of death, excessive workload and many other problems. But despite all this, in 2024 alone, Ukrainian courts were able to consider more than 4 million cases. This is a tremendous number,” emphasised Oleksandra Yanovska.

Anna Adamska-Gallant, judge of the European Court of Human Rights, noted the resilience of the Ukrainian judiciary despite the wartime challenges.

“Even when the war broke out, Ukrainian judges continued their work with no doubts or interruptions, understanding that an independent judiciary is part of an independent state,” she added.

On 4 December 2025, the documentary “In Your Name: Justice in Wartime” was also screened at a plenary session of the CEPEJ, the Council of Europe’s advisory body that analyses, evaluates, and supports the effectiveness and functioning of judicial systems in Member States.

You can watch the documentary for free on YouTube and MEGOGO.

The film premiered on 18 September at the Zhovten cinema in Kyiv.