The article highlights the problem of ensuring the effective functioning of the criminal justice system in Ukraine, especially in the context of modern challenges, such as martial law and social transformations. The study of the implementation of criminal proceedings tasks as an effective means of combating criminal-illegitimate abuses by individual participants is relevant. The complex nature of criminal proceedings tasks is considered, which include not only the fight against crime, but also the urgent need to protect the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of all persons involved in the criminal process. It is proven that criminally unlawful abuses, which can be committed primarily by persons vested with power, pose a significant threat to the fairness of justice and the achievement of its goals.
The article substantiates the need for a deep understanding of the essence of the tasks of criminal proceedings, enshrined in the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, as well as the criminological and criminal-legal nature of possible abuses by individual participants in criminal proceedings in order to develop effective mechanisms for counteracting the commission of criminal offenses in the field of justice. The concept of due process of law as a fundamental guarantee of respect for the rights of participants and its connection with the principle of the rule of law is analyzed. International experience, in particular that of England and Wales, is studied in ensuring a fair resolution of criminal cases, including equality of parties and respect for human rights.
The article analyzes the problem of abuse of procedural rights, which, despite the absence of a direct prohibition in the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine, is recognized as a general legal principle, which is confirmed by judicial practice. The author argues that the insufficient legal certainty of the concept of “abuse of law”, especially in the professional activities of individual participants in criminal proceedings, creates difficulties for the legal qualification of such actions. Various forms of criminally unlawful abuse are considered, in particular, both abuse of power during criminal proceedings and abuse of procedural rights to delay the process. Special attention is paid to the problem of criminally unlawful abuse by the prosecutor.
It is concluded that the implementation of the tasks of criminal proceedings is directly related to the creation of a reliable system of countering criminally unlawful abuse by individual (authorized to conduct the process) participants in criminal proceedings, who undoubtedly encroach on the rights and legitimate interests of participants involved in the criminal proceedings. The definitions of “tasks of criminal proceedings”, “criminally unlawful abuses”, “abuse of procedural rights”, “due legal procedure” are analyzed. The feasibility of improving legislation on liability for criminally unlawful abuses, as well as means of counteracting criminally unlawful abuses in criminal proceedings, is established. Directions for increasing the efficiency of judicial control are indicated, and it is also proposed to restore the institution of a separate court decision, taking into account positive international experience.
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