The Prosecutor Powers

According to the current legislation, preliminary investigations are the exclusive competence of investigators of the Investigative Committee of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. The PMR Prosecutor Anatoly Guretsky initiated changes to empower investigators of the Prosecutor's Office of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic to conduct preliminary investigations. The introduction of dual competitive jurisdiction in the investigation of criminal cases, according to the Prosecutor of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, will improve the quality of preliminary investigations, eliminate the possibility of conflicts of interest or departmental interest, and establish a single fair procedure for holding civil servants accountable. Investigators of the Prosecutor's Office had the authority to investigate criminal cases until 2012, when the Investigative Committee had not yet been formed in the republic. 

The legislations of the Prosecutor of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic were adopted by the Supreme Council in the first reading, but they were supported only in the part that stipulates that the preliminary investigation by investigators of the Prosecutor's Office will be carried out exclusively in cases of crimes provided for in Chapter 30 of the Criminal Code: against state power, the interests of state and municipal service, as well as in cases of crimes committed by officials, and only on the basis of a separate decision (instruction) of the Prosecutor in special cases. Granting the Prosecutor powers only in this part was also the position of the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vadim Krasnoselsky. 

The Committee on Legislation, Protection of Rights and Freedoms of Citizens prepared amendments for consideration of the draft laws of the Prosecutor in the second reading. Deputies considered them at a meeting of the Committee. For example, one of the amendments grants exclusively to the Prosecutor of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic the authority to coordinate activities within the framework of criminal proceedings: the Prosecutor of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic will have the right to instruct the verification of a statement or report of a crime, as well as instruct the investigator subordinate to him to conduct a preliminary investigation.

The Committee meeting discussed the right of the Prosecutor to request from the Investigative Committee a criminal case related to the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor's Office (within the framework of Chapter 30 of the Criminal Code, as well as in cases of crimes committed by officials).

The Prosecutor of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic has already sent the corresponding amendment to the Supreme Council. The relevant committee will recommend that the Presidium of the Supreme Council include the package of legislations on additional powers of the supervisory body in the agenda of the next plenary session for consideration in the second reading.