01/06/2023 (Agence Europe) – In a judgment delivered on Thursday 1 June, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Ukraine in a case concerning the recognition and legal protection of same-sex couples. This case, “Maymulakhin and Markiv v. Ukraine”, concerns two men who have been in a relationship since 2010, but who, in 2014, were refused marriage by seven different registry offices. Citing discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, the applicants turned to the Court, pointing out that under Ukrainian law it was not possible for them to marry or enter into any other type of civil union recognising their relationship. “The broadly worded aim of the protection of the traditional family could not in itself be accepted as a valid ground”, concluded the Court, which condemned Ukraine for discrimination and failure to respect private and family life. (VL)