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Rada backed a bill in principle to change rules for opening investigations: critics warn of risk of blocking cases
The Verkhovna Rada backed in principle a bill regarding the entry of information into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations (URPI) and shortened the preparation period for the document before the second reading. MEZHA says the proposed changes could complicate the start of investigations, particularly those involving economic and corruption crimes.
This was reported by the organization MEZHA.
The author of the legislative initiative is Serhiy Ionushas, chair of the parliamentary committee on law enforcement. The document provides amendments to Article 214 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine — in particular, introducing the criterion of “sufficient data” for entering information into the URPI.
MEZHA believes that such a provision creates the risk of giving investigators broad powers to assess whether there are sufficient grounds to start an investigation. In the organization’s view, this could lead to blocking proceedings before any investigative actions begin.
The statement’s authors paid particular attention to arguments made during the bill’s review in the relevant committee. According to them, People's Deputy Neklyudov, justifying changes to Article 214 of the CPC, referred to provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code of 1960 year.
MEZHA interpreted this as a return to approaches of the Soviet criminal procedure system, under which it was necessary to establish the sufficiency of data about a possible crime before beginning an investigation.
The organization also criticized the speed with which the document moved through parliament. According to its information, the law enforcement committee recommended adopting the bill on the eve of the vote, and the next day deputies supported it in principle and shortened the preparation time for the second reading.
MEZHA urged members of parliament not to support Bill No.15488-3 in the second reading if it contains provisions the organization considers dangerous.
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