Ukrainian business found itself at a crossroads: the Verkhovna Rada is considering draft law No. 12367, which provides for the cancellation of the "Lozovoy amendments", which limited the terms of the pre-trial investigation. Such changes cause controversy between supporters of strengthening the fight against corruption and those who see risks for businesses and citizens.
What does the bill propose?
According to the current norms of the Criminal Procedure Code, the term of the pre-trial investigation cannot exceed 12 months after the service of suspicion. The draft law proposes to abolish these restrictions, which, according to the authors, will allow more effective investigation of complex cases.
However, critics see this as a threat of arbitrariness. In particular, Oleksandr Sokolovskyi, the owner of one of the largest textile enterprises in Ukraine and a member of the Manifest 42 business group, warns: "If the project is approved, the investigation period may become indefinite. This will create the basis for corruption pressure on business."
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, in 2024, 77% of criminal cases against businesses never reached court. Instead, they were used for pressure. "This is not a fight against corrupt officials, but the creation of a tool that can be used against anyone," Sokolovsky emphasizes.
Support for the repeal of Lozovoy's "amendments" also comes from anti-corruption organizations such as the Anti-Corruption Center (CPC). However, their activities have repeatedly come under criticism. Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Communist Party of Ukraine, was at the center of a number of scandals: from evasion of military service to alleged misuse of humanitarian aid.
The Criminal Procedure Code applies not only to high-profile cases, but also to the everyday life of citizens. If the term of the pre-trial investigation becomes indefinite, everyone may find himself in a situation where the case against him will "hang" for years.
"This is a danger not only for business, but also for ordinary citizens. Returning to the Soviet practice of endless investigations is a step backwards," experts say.
No less controversial is the personality of Vitaly Shabunin, who actively supports the changes. The mass media accuse him of fictitious service in the Armed Forces, receiving combat pay, embezzling humanitarian aid and other violations.
Shabunin's scandalous reputation casts a shadow over the initiatives of the CPC, in particular, in the field of changes to the CPC. His opponents believe that such activists do more harm than good.
Voting for draft law No. 12367 will be a litmus test for the Ukrainian authorities. Will the parliament be able to find a balance between strengthening law and order and protecting the rights of citizens? The answer to this question will determine whether Ukraine will embark on the path of reforms or return to the practices of the past.
