The judiciary remains subject to political interference. Parliament, the president, and the Congress of Judges each appoint six of the Constitutional Court's 18 members for nine-year terms. Judges are appointed by the president for an initial five-year term, after which they are subject to parliamentary approval for lifetime tenure. Shortages of qualified judges have led to delays in the court system and violations of the rights of detainees. Many judges on the subnational levels remain sensitive to pressures by the local administrations.
Corruption is pervasive at all levels of government.
Bribery is common for services, education, and in the police forces. Former Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko, widely believed to have a stake in the lucrative gas company, United Energy Systems, was arrested in Switzerland in December and charged with money laundering. While several presidential decrees and laws deal with corruption, there have been no major trials or prosecutions. Freedom of movement within the country is not restricted by law. However, regulations impose a nationwide requirement to register at the workplace and place of residence in order to be eligible for social benefits, thereby complicating freedom of movement by limiting access to certain social benefits to the place where one is registered.