The Rada backed a bill changing the rules for opening investigations: critics warn of risk of case blockage

The Rada backed a bill changing the rules for opening investigations: critics warn of risk of case blockage

The Verkhovna Rada approved in principle a bill to amend the entries to 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 offenses.

This was reported by the organization MEZHA.

The author of the legislative initiative is the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Law Enforcement Serhiy Ionushas. The document provides amendments to Article 214 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine — in particular, introducing the criterion of “sufficient data” for making entries in the URPI.

MEZHA believes that such a provision creates the risk of giving investigators broad powers to assess whether there are sufficient grounds to open an investigation. In the organization’s view, this could lead to cases being blocked even before investigative actions begin.

The statement’s authors paid particular attention to arguments heard during the bill’s consideration in the relevant committee. According to them, Member of Parliament Neklyudov, justifying the 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 the approaches of the Soviet criminal procedure system, under which it was necessary to establish the sufficiency of data about a possible crime before starting 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 already the next day deputies supported it in principle and shortened the preparation period 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.