Subject of Dispute: Closure of Criminal Proceedings against Three Persons in Connection with the Expiration of Pre-Trial Investigation Terms.
Main Arguments of the Court: The Supreme Court established that the criminal proceedings were entered into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations before March 16, 2018, and therefore are not subject to new procedural rules. The extension of pre-trial investigation terms was carried out by the First Deputy Prosecutor of Chernivtsi Oblast, which is lawful. The courts of previous instances unjustifiably closed the proceedings, as they did not take into account the specifics of registration and extension of investigation terms for proceedings initiated before legislative changes.
Court Decision: To cancel the rulings of the district and appellate courts and assign a new hearing in the court of first instance.
