Press Release, 26.04.2024

Photo: Maxim Kruglov / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code have been submitted to the State Duma for consideration, according to these amendemnts investigators and interrogators will be able to access the telephone calls of all citizens, bank accounts and transactions based on a simple request, without the sanction of a judge. Maxim Kruglov, the head of the Yabloko faction in the Moscow City Duma and Deputy Chairman of the Yabloko party, sent a request to the Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsev, asking to explain the need to introduce unconstitutional methods of collecting information into the Criminal Procedure Code and to list measures restraining security forces.

Maxim Kruglov refers in his deputy inquiry to Article 2 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which declares a person, his/her rights and freedoms to be the highest value. Recognition, observance and protection of human and civil rights and freedoms is the responsibility of the state, the Kruglov states.

“If such changes are adopted, this will give the security forces a free hand to put pressure on any citizen “in the interests of the investigation”. Every unscrupulous security official will be able to manipulate any person through his/her personal data and property,” Maxim Kruglov commented.

Yabloko asks Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev to answer the following questions:

– How will the control over the legality of issuing a resolution on the urgency of investigative actions allowing the interior to request data on citizens from operators without any court permission will be implemented?

– How will citizens be compensated for damage caused by unlawful actions of law enforcement officers?

– How will the list of permissible reasons for issuing a decision on the urgency of investigative actions be limited in order to prevent its broad interpretation?

– What are the reasons behind such a tough measure, which significantly infringes on the basic constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens?

“How civil rights will be protected now if the court is removed from this chain, even such as it is, is absolutely unclear. Naturally, there is no justification for the need to expand the powers of the Investigative Committee’s employees,” deputy Maxim Kruglov says.

MAXIM KRUGLOV

is a Deputy Chairman of Yabloko,

a member of the Federal Bureau of the Party,

Deputy Chairman of the Moscow branch of Yabloko,

head of the Yabloko faction in the Moscow City Duma,

Candidate of Political Sciences.