Crimes Against the Electoral Rights of Citizens in Ukraine: The Peculiarities of Their Committing and Investigation
Abstract
This article is concerning on researching the crimes against the elective franchise as the crimes within the transnational nature, which are committed by the usage of information technologies. Different approaches to determine crimes against electoral rights of citizens have been described. Significant differences in number of offenses recorded by the Department of Information Support and Coordination of Police, crimes detected by the National police of Ukraine, as well as in the number of initiated criminal proceedings and number of criminal proceedings referred to the court have been highlighted. The types of unauthorized interference into the database of the State Register of Voters have been pointed. The impact of new voting technologies in increasing number of crimes against the elective franchise has been stressed. The external and internal subjects of crimes against the elective rights of citizens committed by usage of information technologies have been specified. Certain difficulties and problems, an overcoming of which requires a comprehensive approach, have been disclosed. In particular, blanket nature of statutory regulations, lack of well-established investigative and judicial practice, the needs in cooperation among different law enforcement agencies, including international engagement, involvements non-governmental organizations, etc.
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