Rada rejects bill criminalizing 'thieves in law'

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has rejected the bill on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine concerning criminalization of "thieves in law" and strengthening responsibility for crimes that were committed by criminal gangs.

Corresponding bill No. 1188 at a plenary session of the parliament on May 17 failed to collect the required minimum of 226 votes, although Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy put it for vote twice at first reading.

The deputies also did not support the proposal to send the bill back to the authors for revision.

The bill proposed supplementing Part 3 of Article 27 of the Criminal Code, providing that the organizers of criminal groups include persons involved in creation, management and financing of criminal groups, as well as persons with the status of "a kingpin."

According to an explanatory note to the bill, "thieves in law" come to Ukraine from the Russian Federation, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, establish criminal contacts and influence criminal proceedings.