Former Ukrainian Premier Yulia Tymoshenko has called on the opposition political forces of Ukraine to cancel the new Criminal Procedure Code, the ex-premier's defense lawyer, Serhiy Vlasenko, said.
“Yulia Volodymyrivna asked me today to announce her address to all of the opposition forces in the parliament, calling on them to initiate the cancellation of a police state tool, the so-called progressive Criminal Procedure Code, in the first days of this parliament’s work… This code is a complete violation of the Ukrainian constitution and citizens’ rights,” Vlasenko told journalists after a visit to the ex-premier at Kharkiv-based Central Clinical Hospital No. 5.
Vlasenko noted that under the new code it is not necessary to inform a person about the opening of a criminal case against him or her, while the old Criminal Procedure Code foresaw the opportunity to appeal against the instruction to open a criminal case, and a court could suspend investigatory actions until the appeal is considered.
The lawyer also criticized the provisions of Chapter 21 on secret investigatory (search) actions, particularly Article 260 (audio and video surveillance), Article 261 (arrest of correspondence), Article 262 (examination and seizure of correspondence), Article 263 (copying of information from transport telecommunication networks), Article 264 (copying of information from electronic information systems), Article 267 (search of private places, housing and other property of a person), Article 270 (audio and video surveillance in a place), etc.
Vlasenko also said that the new code limits rights of defense lawyers.
“Without the permission and sanctions of the investigators, defense lawyers are not allowed to do anything. They don’t have any rights and opportunities according to this document. They don’t even take part in investigatory actions, they are present at investigatory actions,” Vlasenko said.
As reported, the new Criminal procedure Code of Ukraine took effect on Nov. 19.
