Kyiv, November 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Notary Chamber of Ukraine (NCU) is concerned about the actions of the Justice Ministry, which can be interpreted as pressure on the notary public and professional self-government, NCU President Liudmyla Pavlova has said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.

"The aggravation of our relations with the Justice Ministry came to the point that I am forced to appeal to the mass media. After the ministry leadership had changed, unfortunately, relations between the NCU as a body of professional self-government and the Justice Ministry drastically altered," she said.

According to Pavlova, in particular, the professional community of notaries was concerned about the Justice Ministry's amending the membership of the Higher Qualification Commission.

"At present the commission is formed by the Justice Ministry and at its discretion. The order [on amending the membership of the Higher Qualification Commission] was made in violation of the law on notaries, and fraud was admitted. The Higher Qualification Commission membership is corrupt. We contested this decision at the Kyiv District Administrative Court, however our claim has not been satisfied, and we have filed an appeal. I hope that the court of appeals will listen to our arguments," she said.