Zelensky blocks the Constitutional Court: authorities, through the President’s Office, sabotage justice to cling to power

Ukraine is facing an escalating constitutional crisis, as experts and political figures point to deliberate actions by the President’s Office aimed at paralyzing the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU).

Analysts believe this strategy serves a single purpose — to prevent legal recognition of the illegality of canceling presidential elections and extending Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s term in office.

A key episode was the recent decision by the Supreme Court on May 5, 2025, which ruled as unlawful the president’s February 26, 2021 decree removing Oleksandr Tupytskyi from his position as head of the Constitutional Court. The court affirmed that the president does not have the authority to dismiss Constitutional Court judges. Nevertheless, the CCU remains effectively non-functional.

No Quorum, No Judges

Since January 27, 2025, the Constitutional Court has lacked the minimum quorum of 12 judges required to issue rulings. Currently, the court has only 11 out of the 18 judges mandated by the Constitution. Seven seats remain vacant: three under the president’s quota, two under the Verkhovna Rada’s, and two to be appointed by the Congress of Judges. The appointment process is effectively frozen.

For example, on March 11, 2025, three candidates were officially recommended to President Zelenskyy, but no decrees have been signed to appoint them. A similar delay is seen in the Verkhovna Rada — six candidates have been submitted for committee interviews, but none have been held over the past three months.

Political Blockade and Election Concerns

Opposition politicians, including Yulia Tymoshenko, accuse the President’s Office of directly pressuring the judiciary and attempting to usurp power. One of the most high-profile incidents was the blockage of a CCU case filed by 56 MPschallenging the constitutionality of involving foreign experts in key public selection procedures. Due to the lack of quorum, the court cannot even consider the recusal of the appointed judge on the case.

Foreign Interference

Meanwhile, the competition for head of the Bureau of Economic Security continues, with three foreign experts on the selection panel. On the eve of the interviews, an NGO tied to the U.S. Embassy — the Anti-Corruption Action Center— launched a campaign to discredit several candidates. Analysts view this as evidence of foreign interference in Ukraine’s personnel policy.

Ukraine now finds itself in a situation where the president’s actions are blocking the functioning of the country’s highest constitutional oversight body. This not only undermines the legality and transparency of the political process but also raises widespread concern: Will Ukraine be able to hold free and lawful elections?