Viktor Pshonka

Viktor Pavlovych Pshonka (Ukrainian: Віктор Павлович Пшонка) is the current Prosecutor General of Ukraine (since November 4, 2010^[2]), State Counselor of Justice of Ukraine, Doctor of Laws, Member of the International Association of Prosecutors, Member of the High Council of Justice of Ukraine.^[3][4]

Biography

Viktor P. Pshonka was born on February 6, 1954, in Serhiyivka, Slovyansk District of Donetsk Oblast. After graduating from high school he was called up for military service in the Soviet Army. Having discharged from army, he got a job at one of the enterprises in Donetsk Oblast.^[4]

In 1975, Viktor Pshonka enrolled at the Kharkiv Law Institute.

In 1980, he began work at Kramatorsk Prosecutor`s Office in Donetsk Oblast, where he served as investigator, and eventually as an assistant to prosecutor of the city of Kramatorsk.

From 1986 till 1997, Viktor Pshonka served as prosecutor of Kramatorsk City.

In 1997, he was appointed first deputy prosecutor of Donetsk Oblast.

In 1998-2003, he was prosecutor of Donetsk Oblast, one of the biggest regions in Ukraine.

In November 2003, Viktor P. Pshonka was appointed Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine. He was in charge of prosecutor`s supervision over observance of laws by the agencies of the Ministry of Interior, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), tax police and special units combating organized crime and corruption. He was also responsible for supervision over state customs service and border guard.^[4]

He resigned voluntarily from his office in December 2004, but returned to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine^[5] at the end of 2006.^[4]

In November 2010, members of Ukraine`s Parliament voted in favor (292 votes) of Viktor Pshonka`s appointment as the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. [3]   

Membership

• Member of the International Association of Prosecutors
• Member of the Board of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine
• Member of the High Council of Justice of Ukraine
• Member of the Working Group on Reforming of Prosecution and Advocacy established by the President of Ukraine (since November 22, 2011)^[3]
• Member of the Committee on Reform of Law Enforcement Bodies (by consent) under the President of Ukraine (April 6, 2012)^[3]
• Member of the Working Group on Reforming of Legislation on Administrative Offenses and Introducing of Concept of Misdemeanors, set up by the President of Ukraine (since May 30, 2012)^[3][5]

Family

Pshonka's son Artyom Pshonka was a constituency candidate in Zaporizhia for Party of Regions during the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election.^[6] He was elected into parliament.^[7][8]

Awards

In view of special accomplishments in strengthening of the due course of law in Ukraine, V. Pshonka was awarded a rank of State Counselor of Justice of Ukraine, Honored Jurist of Ukraine and Third Class Order of Merit by the Decrees of the President of Ukraine.^[4]

In 2000, he was named Jurist of the Year in the nomination among prosecutors.^[4]

In 2002, he was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.^[3]

ViktorPshonka was awarded lapel badges of the "Honorable Member of Prosecution Service of Ukraine”, “Statehood. Fairness. Honesty” of 2nd Degree.^[4]

He also received “Acknowledgement of Honest Service in Prosecution Service of Ukraine” of 1st Degree, as well as awards from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.^[4]

Activity

Since his appointment to office, Viktor Pshonka has laid emphasis in his activity on bringing Ukrainian prosecution service in line with European standards. Speaking on the Ukrainian TV channel Inter four days after his appointment, Pshonka called himself "a member of President Viktor Yanukovych's team".^[9]

In this regard, V. Pshonka takes active part in consultations and discussions on the issues of improving of the work of prosecution service with experts and representatives of European and international organizations, in particular, the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Venice Commission, etc.[4][8], as well as exchange of experience with law enforcement authorities of other states. [6][10]

Viktor Pshonka notes that the prosecution authorities are prepared for deep reforms[8], amid implementation of the new Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) of Ukraine, which entered into force in 2012. He supports humanization and democratization of criminal justice in Ukraine[11], strengthening and maintaining of the rule of law in the prosecution service activity[12], and developing of Ukraine`s legal system with due account for both national peculiarities and international experience[9].

In 2012, according to the new CPC, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine led by Viktor P. Pshonka introduced the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations (computerized system, where all complaints and applications regarding criminal offences in Ukraine are registered), which is used by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies[13]. URPI makes it impossible to conceal crimes[14].

In November 2012, the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for employees of the prosecution service was adopted by all-Ukrainian Conference of Members of prosecuting agencies. Viktor Pshonkа described the document as a compilation of high moral and ethical standards of conduct for employees of prosecuting agencies[7].

Another innovation during V.Pshonka`s tenure was establishment of the Dnipro Ecological Prosecutor`s Office, the main task of which is to oversee compliance with environmental laws in respect of drainage basin of the Dnieper River within the territory of Ukraine[15].

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Biography at the Ukrainian High Council of Justice website
2. ↑ Update: Yanukovych signs law on new prosecutor general, Kyiv Post (November 4, 2010)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Biography at the Ukrainian High Council of Justice website
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Biography at the Prosecutor General`s Office of Ukraine website
5. ↑ Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine
6. ↑ Wealthy, entertainers, relatives fill party lists, Kyiv Post (2 August 2012)
7. ↑ Results of the vote count, Kyiv Post ( 2012)
8. ↑ (Ukrainian) Список депутатів нової Верховної Ради, Ukrayinska Pravda (11 November 2012)
9. ↑ Viktor Pshonka: ‘I’m a member of the president’s team’, Kyiv Post, (November 8, 2010)

1. nn
2. nn
3. (Ukrainian) В Україні новий генпрокурор, Ukrayinska Pravda (November 4, 2010)
4. (Russian) Пшонка рассказал в Страсбурге о «феномене» украинской прокуратуры, Ukrayinska Pravda (March 26, 2013)
5. Yanukovych, Pshonka support creation of institute of criminal offences, Kyiv Post (April 19, 2013)
6. Prosecutor General Pshonka visiting Germany for experience exchange, Kyiv Post (January 23, 2013)
7. Ukraine adopts code of ethics and professional conduct for prosecutors, Kyiv Post (November 29, 2012)
8. (Russian) Пшонка заявил о готовности к глубинным реформам в прокуратуре, UNIAN (September 6, 2013)
9. (Russian) Генпрокурор рассказал в Страсбурге о национальных особенностях Украины, UNIAN(March 27, 2013)
10. (Russian) Пшонка рассказал чешскому МВД и полиции о реформе в Украине, Ukrinform (September 4, 2013)
11. Pshonka: New Criminal Procedure Code has already helped humanize criminal justice, Interfax News Wire (May 7, 2013) 
12. Viktor Pshonka discussed the rule of law in prosecutor’s activity with the IAP President, Mr. James Hamilton, and Mr. Philippe Boillat, Prosecutor General`s Office of Ukraine official website (September 9, 2013)
13. (Ukrainian) "Зі вступом в силу нового Кримінального процесуального кодексу всім правоохоронним органам доведеться перебудовуватися для роботи в нових умовах", - Генеральний прокурор України, Prosecutor General`s Office of Ukraine official website (August 22, 2012)
14. (Russian) Пшонка: Введение ЕРДР сделало невозможным сокрытие преступлений Podrobnosti (April 19, 2013)
15. (Ukrainian) Пшонка відкрив контору по «охороні» берегів Дніпра Kyiv Comments (March 5, 2012)

External links

• Prosecutor General`s Office of Ukraine
• Biography at the Ukrainian High Council of Justice website