In the understanding of an ordinary citizen, the State Security Service of Ukraine (SSSU) is a special law enforcement agency that must ensure the state security of our country (intelligence, counterintelligence, prevention of terrorism). But, as the realities of today and the current legislation show, this body has a more ramified system of powers and levers of influence on all spheres of society, including in the fight against corruption and crimes in the sphere of management and the economy.
Many of us know the stories about the famous "Department" K "of the SSSU and its impact on the economic activities of enterprises and doing business in Ukraine in general.
However, in the near future all entrepreneurs will be able to breathe a sigh of relief: on 03/25/2021 the Law of Ukraine "On the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine" No. 1150-XI of 01/28/2021 came into force.
In accordance with the norms of the new law, the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) is the central body of executive power, which is entrusted with the task of countering offenses that infringe on the functioning of the state's economy.
According to the law, the SSSU will lose the functions of investigating crimes against corruption and in the sphere of economics and management, which are not characteristic of the special services.
It should be noted that BES will begin its activities from the day the Cabinet of Ministers announces the beginning of its activities, but not later than six months from the date the law came into force, that is, no later than September 25, 2021.
Currently, in order to avoid collapse during the transfer of materials from criminal proceedings on economic and corruption violations, the final provisions of the law establish a transitional period. Proceedings will be transferred to the relevant prosecutors for these criminal proceedings. When the BES officially starts working, the relevant prosecutors will transfer the materials to the new department.
We hope that the new body will properly exercise control and prevention of corruption and economic crimes, which in the end will allow the SBU to concentrate on solving problems that are really directly related to the security of the state.
Gennady Silvanovich, lawyer in Dynasty Law & Investment
