In the Verkhovna Rada, draft law No. 12439, which concerns guarantees for business during investigative actions, is being prepared for the second reading. The document contains provisions limiting the work of investigators in corruption cases. This is discussed in the card of the draft law on the website of the parliament.
The draft law provides for the introduction of new rules for the investigation of corruption cases, which are supposed to protect business from individual cases of pressure from law enforcement officers. Among the changes that may be adopted, it is proposed to recognize actions as legal based on the explanations of regulators, rather than court decisions, which will actually allow the interpretation of officials to replace court decisions. In addition, it is proposed to prohibit the conduct of urgent searches in cases involving an offer, promise or bribe, as well as abuse of influence, without a decision of the investigating judge.
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office stated that such innovations are contrary to the Constitution, the principle of equality before the law and may jeopardize ongoing investigations and cases that have already been brought to court.
“It is not about protecting business from possible abuses by officials or law enforcement officers. The proposed innovations make it impossible to bring to justice those who abuse power, – the SAP reported.
The prosecutor’s office called on people’s deputies not to support draft law No. 12439 in the second reading. One of the authors of the document is a people’s deputy from the Servant of the People faction. Maksym Buzhanskyi, who was also a co-author of Law No. 12414, which contained provisions on limiting the independence of anti-corruption bodies.
