You're reading: Poroshenko vetoes law on institute of public prosecution

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has vetoed the bill, passed by the Verkhovna Rada on May 22, which introduces the institute of the public prosecution in dealing with crimes related to abuse of office with evidence of corruption.

The bill signed by parliamentary speaker Volodomyr Groysman on June 4 and was returned to the parliament by the president on June 19, according to a report posted on the website of the Verkhovna Rada on June 24.

The main objective of the bill is to strengthen the role of the public in the fight against corruption, including via introducing a new legal institute in criminal proceedings – the institute of public prosecution in crimes defined under Article 368, which deals with officials accepting a proposal, or making a promise to obtain undue advantage, and Article 370 (provocation of bribery) of the Criminal Code, the report quotes Poroshenko as saying.

“However, the rights granted by the law, which was submitted for the president’s signature, the public prosecutor (an individual or legal entity which is directly affected by a criminal offense or which has information about a criminal offence committed against other person or persons) entail risks of violating the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, the deterioration of the situation with the observance of human rights and freedoms in the country, pose a threat to national security which renders useless the potential positive effect of the adoption of the law,” Poroshenko said.

The bill amends the Criminal Procedure Code, the Criminal Code, and the Code of Administrative Offences of Ukraine.