The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has passed a law on the State Investigations Bureau (bill No. 2114).
A total of 241 MPs voted for the decision on Nov. 12.
The law states that the State Bureau of Investigations will deal with crimes committed by officials of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and prosecutors of the specialized anti-corruption prosecution agencies, except for cases when the pre-trial investigation of these crimes defers to the jurisdiction of detectives of the internal control subdivision of the national Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The State Bureau of Investigations is subordinated to central power. Its director will be appointed by the president of Ukraine under the recommendation of prime minister on a contest basis. The contest commission will choose the candidates.
First Deputy and Deputy Director of the State Bureau of Investigations will be appointed and dismissed by the bureau’s director under the contest commission’s nomination.
The law also specifies the number of the employees of the State Bureau of Investigations – 1,500.
“This law brings us closer to Europe,” Chairman of Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement Andriy Kozhemyakin said during the presentation of the bill.
