Recent case law of the European Court of Human Rights on the proportionality of pre-trial detention

On 27 August 2026, the eighth meeting of the Judges’ Discussion Club took place – a platform designed to bring together judges from Ukraine and EU countries for professional exchange and discussion of key challenges facing the judicial system. The club was established on the initiative of the National School of Judges of Ukraine and the European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM).

The theme of the eighth session was ‘Recent case law of the European Court of Human Rights on the proportionality of pre-trial detention’. The panellists were a judge from the Päijät-Häme District Court (Finland), Anu Välimäki, Senior Legal Reform Adviser at EUAM, and Tetyana Shevirina, a judge at the Ochakiv City and District Court in Mykolaiv Oblast.

During the discussion, participants emphasised that safeguarding the right to liberty and personal integrity remains one of the key hallmarks of a democratic state. This issue has become particularly relevant in the context of martial law and the prosecution of individuals suspected of crimes against national security.

Following the speakers’ introductory presentations, the participants took part in an interactive discussion, during which they debated, in particular, the justification for pre-trial detention and the specific aspects of applying this preventive measure to applicants suspected of crimes against national security, in accordance with the legislation adopted in the context of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Participants also had the opportunity to compare approaches to the administration of justice in Ukraine and the Member States of the European Union, to exchange professional experiences and to ask further questions of the invited experts.

The Discussion Club is not a one-off event, but an ongoing platform for professional dialogue. The meetings take place online in English. Judges have the opportunity to share their own experiences, ask questions of colleagues from other countries, discuss differences between legal systems, the nuances of judicial ethics, the interaction between the judiciary and society, and so on.

The organisers emphasise that the establishment of the club is an important step towards deepening the partnership between the Ukrainian and European judicial communities, which is of particular significance in the context of reforming Ukraine’s legal system and strengthening its course towards European integration.