On January 9, 2018, the Head of the Donetsk People's Republic met with judges who entered the second term of office. The Head of the State thanked the judges for the establishment of the system and fruitful work for the three war years, and also entrusted them with the main task for the near future.
"Today, the judiciary of the People's Democratic Republic is celebrating its third anniversary. This is a short period, for which we managed to do a lot. Believe me, we appreciate your work. This time was not easy, we faced serious problems of establishment. But we have overcome these difficulties. The courts of the Donetsk People's Republic are working, people are resorting, and decisions are being declared.
Among negative stuff, I can mention the fact that there are a lot of cases in the Republic, which were opened before 2014. Dear friends, we should break with our Ukrainian past. There is no way back, we are on the path of the state independence. And we build the state with our own hands. Therefore, I strongly require you to deal with the cases dragging from 2014 in the nearest future. This is your most operational task.
I know that the position of the Supreme Court is to categorically deny employment to judges who fled the Donbas at the beginning of the war. I fully share this position. People who are returning are opportunists, who left to seek a better share in the most difficult times. These people do not belong in the Republic. The honor of a judge should not be tarnished, the person who betrays ones will betray for a second time. We all shared the fate of our state, and we are fighting for it. You stand on guard of law and order. This should be the basic principle of the work of judges," said Alexander Zakharchenko.