Susanna Stanik

Susanna Romanovna Stanik - retired judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, former Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, former Minister of Justice.

Date of Birth: 27.09.1954

Place of Birth. Education. Born in Lviv. In 1977, she graduated with honors from the Law Faculty of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, specializing in Law. From 1988 to 1990, she studied at the Institute of Political Science and Sociology in Odessa. Doctor of Law.

Career. From 1978 to 1994, Stanik held responsible positions in the executive bodies of the Lviv region and in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. From 1994 to 1996, she was Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine. From September 1996 to August 1997, she served as Minister of Family and Youth of Ukraine. From August 1997 to May 2002, she was Minister of Justice of Ukraine in three consecutive governments - Valeriy Pustovoytenko, Viktor Yushchenko, and Anatoliy Kinakh. From December 2001 to March 2004, she was the permanent representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Ukraine to the Swiss Confederation. In June 2002, Stanik was awarded the title of extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador. From March 2004 to April 2008, she was a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. In April 2010, she was reinstated to her position.

In April 2007, a scandal broke out around Stanik. She became the reporter in a constitutional review of President Yushchenko's decree on the dissolution of the Fifth Supreme Council. Stanik and two other judges questioned the legality of the President's decision. Yushchenko's team suspected that the judges of the Constitutional Court had been bribed, and Yushchenko signed a decree for their dismissal 'for violating the oath of office'.

At the same time, SBU employees investigated possible corruption cases involving court staff. Stanik was accused, for example, of acquiring or purchasing two apartments worth 2 million USD in an elite building in Kyiv. One of her close relatives (at that time unemployed) was attributed movable and immovable property worth 12 million USD.

The then-parliamentary majority around the Party of Regions accused Yushchenko of trying to intimidate the entire composition of the Constitutional Court, but could not protect Stanik from the 'wrath' of the President. For almost a year, she fought in court to declare Yushchenko's decree unlawful. Ultimately, the Supreme Court of Ukraine ruled in favor of the dismissed in March 2008, and the head of state was forced to reinstate her to her previous position. However, Yushchenko issued a new decree the day after her 'rehabilitation', on April 3, which canceled the effect of the decree of his predecessor Leonid Kuchma who had appointed Stanik as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. Reason - 'due to violations of the procedure for appointing a judge to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine'.

On April 28, 2010, Stanik was reinstated to her position by the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine by the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. However, the next day she resigned voluntarily.

Awards. Awarded the Order of Princess Olga of the III degree and the honorary award of the President of Ukraine - the Order 'For Merits' of the III degree. Honored Lawyer of Ukraine.

Stanik is a member of the 'For Democracy through Law' Commission (Venice Commission), the International Association for Legal Methodology, and the Council of Women - leading figures in the world.

Family. In 2000, she married journalist Vadim Dolganov. She has one son.

27.09.2023