Ukraine sets up State Bureau of Investigation

The Ukrainian parliament has passed a bill on establishing the State Bureau of Investigation, with 241 out of 344 MPs registered in the session hall voting for this decision, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement Andriy Kozhemyakin said the bureau would be involved in investigating crimes that were earlier under the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor's Office. In particular, these are the crimes committed by senior officials, civil servants, judges and law enforcement officers, except when this crime falls within the scope of jurisdiction of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, as well as war crimes.

"Thus, the Prosecutor's Office will be permanently deprived of the functions of pre-trial investigation," Kozhemyakin said.

The bill specifies that the head of the Bureau shall be appointed by the president of Ukraine upon the recommendation of the prime minister following an open contest for director's position.

According to Anton Gerashchenko, the adviser to Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, "the competition for Prosecutor General's position will now become less fierce."

First deputy and deputy director shall be appointed and dismissed by the head of the Bureau upon the recommendation of the contest committee.

The number of employees of the central and regional administrations of the State Bureau of Investigation shall not exceed 1,500 people.

Original