The Parties discussed peculiarities of considering the draft law on the prosecutor’s office in the second reading, possible amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, and prospects of adopting the bill on the State Bureau of Investigation.
A. Kozhemiakin informed that in connection with present political situation in Ukraine, most members of the working group on elaboration of the bill on the prosecutor’s office, initiated by former President V.Yanukovych, and those who were responsible for its preparation for the second reading in the Parliament, have fled Ukraine.
A. Kozhemiakin reminded that adoption of the document in entirety as a law in the autumn of 2013 was one of key conditions for signing the Association Agreement. Representatives from the All-Ukrainian Union “Batkivshchyna” faction, UDAR and the All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda” withdrew their amendments to the second reading, however, the bill had not been submitted for consideration of the session hall in connection with civil confrontation in the country.
The Parties discussed several important norms of the bill, particularly amendments to articles 16, 17, 24, 25, 41, regarding which the Committee’s Chair had a meeting with leadership of the Venice Commission.
A. Kozhemiakin got the Council of Europe representatives acquainted with the comparative table for the second reading which includes 778 amendments. One of the variants stipulates radical legislative reforming of prosecution agencies, the other one is more reasonable
After consultations between the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov, leaders of deputy factions and the acting Prosecutor General O.Makhnitskyi, it will be decided which bill will be considered by the Verkhovna Rada,” informed the Committee Chair. He believes that under the condition of complicated political situation, consideration of the bill might take several months. In regard to amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine, its final adoption is possible no sooner than at the end of 2014.
The Committee Chair informed also about the bill on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code that was elaborated by him, and the Committee members M.Palamarchuk and S.Sas.
Prospects of consideration of the draft law on the State Investigation Bureau were also discussed in the course of the meeting. Adoption of this legislative act is within the list of initiatives, approved in the activity programme of the new Cabinet of Ministers. The Committee Chair informed about the draft law on State Investigation Bureau (Reg. No. 3042), elaborated by the Committee Chair himself and the group of experts and leading scientific institutions. The decision on consideration of this bill will also be taken after consultations with deputy factions and groups in the Verkhovna Rada, as well as government representatives.
Representative of the Council of Europe’s Secretary General Jeroen
Schokkenbroek thanked the Committee Chair for a useful dialogue and underlined
that the Council of Europe is ready to provide Committee with expert
consultations and is interested in supporting the process of reformation of the
law enforcement bodies in this “complicated transitional period”. The Parties
agreed to further continue cooperation.