Zelensky decided to sell Saakashvili’s legislative second-hand goods to Ukrainians

President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law “On amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding liability for crimes committed by a criminal community,” which provides for criminal liability for persons having the status of “thief in law,” a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.

Bill No. 2513 is aimed at ensuring political and economic stability in Ukraine through changes in the state’s law enforcement policy regarding the fight against organized crime, the presidential press service reports.

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The draft document provides for the introduction of criminal liability for persons holding the status of “thief in law”, creation and participation in criminal communities, etc.

To the terms “organized group” and “criminal organization” the concept of “criminal community” is added and responsibility for crimes committed by it is determined.

A “thief in law,” according to the document, is a person who adheres to the traditions and rules of conduct inherent in the criminal environment, enjoys authority among persons who have committed criminal offenses, leads, coordinates and/or organizes the activities of a criminal community or part of it, or is a member of such a community.

He plans to punish such people for a term of 7 to 10 years with confiscation of property. There are also plans to make life more difficult for thieves in law in terms of their gatherings and gatherings. Everything is very strict - thieves will be punished for participating in gatherings for a term of 3 to 6 years.

When detained, the suspect will be asked on camera: “Are you a thief in law?” If he confesses on camera, that’s proof. And the straight road to the deadline. But if he answers “no” on camera, this is tantamount to “decoronization,” since public renunciation of his status as a “thief in law” is not encouraged in the world of thieves.

“Organizing a meeting of representatives of criminal organizations will now be punishable by imprisonment for a term of 3 to 6 years. This is, of course, wonderful. But how can Poroshenko conduct faction meetings now? What should they do now, gather electronically?” Ukrainian lawyer Andrei Portnov commented on the presidential initiative in his Telegram channel.

The Kiev telegram channel Klymenko Time draws attention to the fact that the bill proposed by Zelensky actually copies a similar Georgian experience during the reign of Mikheil Saakashvili in this country.

“The explanatory note cites the experience of Georgia as a model for the Ukrainian legislative initiative. And this is no coincidence. There, in 2005, very similar amendments to the Criminal Code were adopted, providing for criminal punishment for being in the status of a “thief in law.” The note also mentions a law passed in Italy in 1982 that introduced criminal penalties for participation in a mafia-type criminal association. Since 2005, one of the states where thieves in law went from Georgia was Ukraine. Because in Russia, for example, it was difficult for them to mind their own business even until April 2019. In 2018, for example, law enforcement officers expelled 11 thieves in law from Ukraine. And they constantly find ways to return. The new law, if adopted, will discourage such a desire,” writes the telegram channel.