Ukrainian law enforcement officers can be authorized to open not only citizens’ correspondence, but also their mail. According to the new draft law No. 12294, registered in the Verkhovna Rada, parcels will be seized without the addressee’s knowledge.
The bill proposes to amend Article 258 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which regulates interference in private communication. The new rule will allow the seizure, inspection and seizure of mail, including letters, postcards, small packages, “M” bags, address mail, parcels, mail for the blind, EMS and other means of communication.
Such actions will be carried out only after the decision of the investigating judge in cases where there are reasons to believe that the shipment may contain things, documents or information important for the pre-trial investigation.
If things or documents are found that are important to the case, the investigators will be able to confiscate them. If it is necessary to maintain confidentiality, the seizure may be accompanied by the removal of copies, obtaining samples, applying special marks, using technical means of control or replacing the consignment with a safe analogue.
If during the inspection no materials important for the investigation are found, the postal item will be returned to the addressee. All actions of inspection, removal or detention of shipments will be recorded in the protocol.
