16 June 2011, 17:07
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appelaed to the Prosecutor-General of Ukraine where he insisted on inadmissibility of use of double standard in use of Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine.
M. Tomenko reminded that on April 8, 2011 The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine" (re familiarization of accused and defender with materials of case). The bill (Reg. No. 8006) supplements clause 218 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine with part seven, whereby in case of delay in the familiarization of accused and defender with materials of case, investigation officer, by consent of the prosecutor, or the prosecutor can file a lodgment to the court by locus of the proceedings which is scrutinized by the judge who fixes the term for the accused and defender to familiarize with the materials of case and present a petition. Deputy Chairman emphasized that the amendments came into effect from April 20, 2011 and were used to restrict familiarization terms with the materials of the criminal cases against representatives of the Ukrainian opposition Ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko and Ex-Minister of Internal Affairs Yurii Lutsenko.
Though, Mykola Tomenko reminded that still there are no information regarding use of the above-mention principle of the Law regarding other high profile criminal case. Namely, cases of Sunday Adeladja, Robert Fletcher etc."There are no official information regarding initiative of the investigative agencies regarding termination of familiarization with these cases", emphasized M. Tomenko. "Ukrainian Judicial System: Law for the Ukrainian Citizens and Benefits for the Foreigners?", he added.
Deputy Chairman of the Parliament addressed to the Prosecutor-General of Ukraine with the request to give reason why the norms of the effective Law "are so efficiently used in cases against Ukrainian opposition and are ignored while scrutiny of the high profile criminal cases with foreign citizens that have laid hands on dozens of millions of the Ukrainian citizens by false pretences." Moreover, he asked prosecutor-General to take all the necessary measures to terminate illegal familiarization with materials of such cases as King's Capital and Millionaire Mentor.