Last week, the Verkhovna Rada initiated the creation of a military police in Ukraine, which would have the legal right to search and detain servicemen and evasion. However, on June 5, after public publicity, the bill was withdrawn from consideration.
The military police, according to the draft law, had to become a new law enforcement structure. It is worth noting that the military service in the Armed Forces is already operating in Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense supported this bill and on the eve of the vote called on the Council to approve it, emphasizing its importance to create a system of military justice.
The rights and responsibilities of military police
The bill stipulated that military police would be able to temporarily restrict or prohibit traffic and pedestrians, carry out surface inspections of vehicles and drivers. During martial law or emergency, she would participate in the fight against hostile sabotage groups, the protection of military facilities, restoration and maintenance in military units, and providing a special regime of entry and exit.
Military police would also have the right to check documents from servicemen, conscripts and reservists, delay them during the meeting and call them to provide explanations in cases in its proceedings.
The scandalous rules of the bill
Public resonance provoked a provision on the right of military police to penetrate the dwelling, if necessary for the establishment of law and order, and delayed persons suspected of committing crimes. The provision on the possibility of cooperation with civilians on a contractual basis, with material and moral encouragement for assisting in the detection and termination of criminal offenses was also discussed.
The reaction of lawyers and the reasons for the draft law
Lawyer Kateryna Anishchenko noted that military police would have the right to search for conscripts who did not update their credentials or were wanted. She also drew attention to the controversial rule on the promotion of civilians to cooperate.
On June 5, the Verkhovna Rada removed the draft laws No. 6569-d and 6570-d on the establishment of military police. People's Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported that 278 deputies voted for this decision. He noted that parliamentarians would return to the consideration of the draft laws after additional consultations.
