Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed a law expanding the powers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the investigation of riots," the presidential press service reported on Friday, Jan.5.
On December 20, 2011, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law introducing amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine concerning the specification of investigative jurisdiction.
The law updates the wording of Part 3, Article 12 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine concerning investigative agencies. In particular, the SBU now can investigate cases on crimes envisaged by Article 294 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (riots).
The law also introduces a rule that if it is established during the investigation of a crime related to the investigative jurisdiction of the SBU that are crimes related to abuse of office, they should also be investigated by the SBU. The list of official crimes now also includes the term "bribery."
