INTRODUCTION It is important to note that most monitoring visits took place in oblast capitals and their satellite cities. In more remote areas, the public and monitors seldom attend open trials, thus, the judges there may demonstrate different standards of conduct. It is also worth stressing that this report does not provide any general assessment of the functioning of the judiciary, but it only characterizes its external functioning side – the trials. Accordingly, the findings of trial monitoring may become integral components of more complex justice sector monitoring programmes. The findings of this monitoring may serve as a baseline for assessing the progress of judicial reform in Ukraine. The authors would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine for supporting this monitoring programme, as well as to those OSCE officials who co-ordinated the monitoring programme and assisted with its implementation – Ms. Natalia Stupnytska, Ms. Natalia Betsa, Ms. Olena Lungol, Mr. Yevhen Avramenko, Ms. Roksolana Melnyk, and the CPLR co-ordinator of monitors and information manager of the programme – Ms. Yaryna Busol. Report on the findings of the first trial monitoring programme in Ukraine 5