We are not only adopt the new Criminal Procedural Code, but also provide its efficiency. It should work at all levels as a mechanism of protection rights of all parties of the criminal action. Viktor Shemchuk, MP of the Right of Choice group, emphasized that in his comment to the adoption in the first reading of the draft Criminal Procedural Code.

He reminded that the current Criminal Procedural Code had been in force during 50 years. “During this time, there have been 8 attempts to changes it, 2 times the code’s new wordings have been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada for consideration; however, there have been no political will to change the document we have been using since Stalin’s times. The Criminal Procedural Code has to be changed definitely; the new one should be more thought over and better. The changes are to be concrete and efficient,” the MP noted.

He turned attention to the fact that the draft Criminal Procedural Codes considered by the VR as of the day were revolutionary, thus they arouse many questions and propositions. “There are some discordances with the Constitution which should be leveled, and also the Supreme Court’s role has been leveled. At the same time, by supporting the President’s draft law in the first reading we base on necessity of starting changes. If we do not do that, nothing will be changed ever”.

Viktor Shemchuk stressed that the Right of Choice group would make all its propositions during preparation of the Criminal Procedural Code to the second reading. “Today is it the President’s initiative introduced by his administration, tomorrow it will be a code for the whole state. It is important for the authorities and the opposition to find a compromise to adopt a unified law which is considered to be the second important one after the Constitution by some experts,” the MP summed up.

He also informed that the day before, Ukrainian delegation had held a number of important meetings in the USA in order to study the country’s experience in reforming the criminal procedural laws.