You're reading: Yanukovych, Pshonka support creation of institute of criminal offenses

A priority task in the context of the further reform of criminal justice in Ukraine is work to create an institute of criminal offences, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said at a nationwide meeting of employees of prosecuting agencies on Friday. 

“A priority at the current stage of development is also the completion of work on the institution of criminal offences, the introduction of which will help bring into force the respective Criminal Procedure Code and form a comprehensive strategy for dealing with criminal offenses,” he said.

While addressing the participants in the meeting, Yanukovych said that he expects them to actively participate in the development of such an institution and offer constructive proposals in this direction.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka, in turn, asked the head of state to support the initiative of the prosecutor’s office on the speedy adoption of the Code of Criminal Offenses.

“We think that the speedy adoption of the Code of Criminal Offences will help reduce the burden on investigators, procedural managers and judges,” he said at the meeting.

He said that the adoption of the law on criminal offenses would help exclude 40 articles and 160 of their parts from the Criminal Code. Pshonka also said that the adoption of this code would help simplify procedural norms with regard to many offenses.

In this regard, he said, addressing Yanukovych: “We’re asking you, dear Mr. President, to support us in this important matter.”