Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) is proud to have been represented at the Final Oral Round of the 14th Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition, which took place from 1 to 5 June 2026 in Strasbourg, France.
MRU were represented by Olena Leshchenko and Magda Khalvashi, students of the joint Master's programme in European and International Business Law, coached by PhD Candidate Ivan Sukhorukov. By advancing to the Final Oral Round, they joined the top-performing teams in Europe in one of the continent's most prestigious human rights moot court competitions.
After nine months of intensive preparation, including extensive legal research, written submissions, and rigorous oral advocacy training, the team earned its place among Europe's best. The finalists presented their arguments before distinguished judges and experts at the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights.
This year's case, Orwell v. Valdora, examined the use of artificial intelligence in criminal proceedings and its implications for the right to a fair trial, requiring participants to address complex legal questions at the intersection of technology, human rights, and criminal justice.
During the Final Oral Round, the MRU team pleaded the case from both procedural perspectives. In the preliminary rounds held in Strasbourg, the team appeared as the Applicant against a team from Germany and as the Respondent against a team from Sakartvelo (Georgia), demonstrating strong advocacy skills and a thorough command of the complex legal issues raised by the case.
During the opening events of the competition, the team also had the honour of meeting Ambassador Andrius Krivas, Lithuania’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The discussion provided students with a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the work of a diplomat representing Lithuania within one of Europe's most important international organisations. The Ambassador shared perspectives on diplomatic service, Lithuania's engagement within the Council of Europe, and the professional path leading to a career in diplomacy, offering students a broader understanding of international representation and public service.
On 1 June, the MRU team had the privilege of meeting Gediminas Sagatys, the judge elected in respect of Lithuania to the European Court of Human Rights, MRU alumnus and former MRU professor. The discussion provided in-depth insights into the Court's functioning and judicial practice, including the structure of judicial formations, the rules governing their composition, and the importance of ensuring geographical and legal-system diversity within the Court's decision-making bodies. The conversation also touched upon the procedure for the election of judges, the internal workflow of the Court, the allocation of cases, and the practical aspects of adjudicating disputes under the European Convention on Human Rights. The exchange offered a valuable opportunity to better understand the institutional and procedural foundations that underpin the Court's work and the challenges faced by judges in safeguarding human rights across Europe.
We congratulate Olena, Magda, and Ivan on this outstanding achievement and commend their excellent representation of Mykolas Romeris University on the international stage.
Read about O. Leshchenko's experience here, and M. Khalvashi's here.
