Draft bill #12073 of September 27, 2024
Status: sent for review to the Law Enforcement Committee of the Verkhovna Rada
Cosponsors: 30 MPs from the factions Holos and Servant of the People, groups Restoration of Ukraine and Trust with Volodymyr Vatras as the first signatory
Who is affected: prisoners and convicts, providers of legal services, and the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights
Summary:
- if a disciplinary sanction is imposed on a prisoner or convict, the prison administration will be required to allow them to inform their relatives, lawyer, or other legal representatives who can help them defend themselves within 24 hours
- if a person needs a free lawyer, the disciplinary commission will have to wait and not go on with the proceedings until it is confirmed that a lawyer has been provided
- if the disciplinary proceedings are suspended, the time allotted for imposing punishment will also be suspended. This also means the time during which the case was suspended will not be counted towards the total sentence.
What is right: ensuring the right of prisoners and convicts to free legal assistance is not only a direct obligation of the state but also an important tool for upholding the rule of law, protecting human rights, and facilitating the rehabilitation of convicts.