A Lecture by the Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine, Vasyl Kostytskyi, at Ostroh Academy National University

May 29, 2024

On May 29, the academic community of the National University of Ostroh Academy listened to a lecture by a Doctor of Science (Law), academician of the National Academy of Legal Sciences, Professor of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, President of the Association of Ukrainian Lawyers, Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine, Vasyl Kostytskyi. 

The Director of the I. Malinovsky Educational and Scientific Institute of Law, Candidate of Science (Law), Associate Professor Olha Balatska addressed the audience:

"I am glad to welcome everyone to our meeting. It concerns the current topic of the rule of law, which has never been exhausted, especially in the conditions of the Russia-Ukraine War. It is a great honour for our university and institute to meet with such a guest - one of the "fathers of the Constitution". His extraordinary experience as a lawyer, public figure, and scientist is impressive, so today, he will share it with you."

Vasyl Kostytskyi is known not only on the territory of Ukraine but also far beyond its borders as a prominent scientist and politician. His long-term career includes work as a People's Deputy of Ukraine for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd convocations, authorship of almost 200 draft laws, and direct participation in creating the 1996 Constitution of Ukraine. He is one of those statesmen who, with his scientific developments and political decisions, laid the foundations of modern Ukrainian statehood.

"It is significant for me to speak at Ostroh Academy today because this place is the cradle of Ukrainian education, built on Christian foundations,"

In his lecture, the speaker addressed topical issues. One of the main topics was what signifies the state's modernity. The speaker emphasised that just the location on the world map is not enough for the state to be considered modern and legal.

Mr Kostytskyi emphasised that for true modernity, the state must carry some meaning, especially in the face of global challenges. A modern state must be able to stand up to threats, preserve its independence, and ensure the rights of its citizens, and judicial power must have a special place in it. In the concept of separation of state power, a special place belongs to the people as its subject, not the object; an example is the Ukrainian people, who repeatedly demonstrated their power on the Maidan and stopped the Russian invaders in the city of Kyiv from the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Vasyl Kostytskyi's lecture gathered numerous listeners, including students, lecturers, and scientists. Each of them had the opportunity to personally communicate with the speaker, ask questions and get comprehensive answers.

The lecture exemplifies how scientific knowledge can combine with political experience to solve the most pressing problems of modern civil society.