WESTERN REGION WESTERN REGION The monitors observed 317 court hearings in the western region, which amounts to 23% of the total number of court hearings attended. The monitoring in the western region included Lviv, Volyn, Ivano-Frankivsk, Transcarpathian and Chernivtsi oblasts: 35 114 (36 %) hearings – in criminal cases; 73 (23 %) hearings – in civil cases; 58 37 (12 %) hearings – in commercial cases; 58 (18 %) hearings – in administrative cases; 35 (11 %) hearings – in administrative offences cases. 37 317 COURT HEARINGS 144 73 Most visited hearings took place in first instance courts – 233 (74%), another 84 (26%) – in courts of appeal. ADHERENCE TO GENERAL RULES OF PROCEDURE By most indicators the monitoring in the western region demonstrated a situation slightly worse than the nationwide average, however, the discrepancies are not major. According to the monitoring data, all over Ukraine the hearings were conducted impeccably in 48% of cases. At the same time, in the western region this indicator was lower – 46%. In addition, in the western region the monitors stated that the judge grossly breached the rules of adjudication or the rights of the parties to the case 1% more frequently (6% against the general rate 5% nationwide). In 87% of cases the judge considered the case wearing a robe and a badge, which matches the general rate for all of Ukraine. The difference in observance of the rules for identifying the participants of the hearing and the observance of The confidentiality of a deliberations room is more visible. In the western region the situation regarding these two indicators is better by 3% and 6% accordingly. PUBLICITY The schedule of hearings was posted on the web-site of the court in 93% of cases monitored (below nationwide average by 1%). The information about cases was posted on the court’s information board less often – in 82% (matches the nationwide average rate). In 99% of cases the monitors were allowed into the room (a courtroom or judges’ chambers) where the consideration of the case took place (above nationwide average by 1%). In 76% of cases the courts heard the case in the courtroom (below nationwide average by 5%). Report on the findings of the first trial monitoring programme in Ukraine 65