Zelensky signs law on amendments to Criminal Procedure Code during quarantine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law amending the rules of judicial control over the observance of the rights, freedoms and interests of individuals in criminal proceedings for the duration of the quarantine, according to the website of the Ukrainian parliament.
The law was returned with the president's signature on April 17.

On April 13, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law introducing amendments to Section XI "Transitional Provisions" of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine on the peculiarities of judicial control over the observance of the rights, freedoms and interests of persons in criminal proceedings and the consideration of certain issues during judicial proceedings for the period of the quarantine established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (Bill No. 3276).

This law temporarily, for the period of the quarantine, establishes the peculiarities of judicial control over the observance of the rights, freedoms and interests of individuals in criminal proceedings and the consideration of certain issues during judicial proceedings.

The consideration of issues pertaining to the powers of the investigating judge (except for the consideration of petitions for permission to conduct covert investigative activities and appeals against the decisions, actions or inactivity of the investigator or prosecutor during a pretrial investigation) and individual issues during judicial proceedings is carried out taking into account the said peculiarities.

If it is not possible to determine an investigating judge in a respective court (except for the High Anti-Corruption Court), a local court submits a reasoned motion for the transfer of the petition to be considered by the investigating judge for consideration to another court within the jurisdiction of one court of appeal or to another court within the jurisdiction of different courts of appeal.