Discussions on the amendments of Draft Anti-Corruption Law and the Draft Law on the Special Investigation Service to resume today in the Parliament.

Pursuant to the amendments, the Special Investigation Service, and the Personal Data Protection Service shall acquire the capacity to publish the special report on the issues related to their activities, and the Chief of the Office shall be elected by an increased quorum – with the majority of the full composition instead of the majority of the attended members. Besides, the terms for the competition for the candidacies shall be extended from 11 to 14 weeks. The initiation of the criminal proceedings against the Chief requires the approval of the Parliament – the majority of the full composition – 76 votes instead of 50, etc.

The amendments to the Draft Anti-Corruption Law determine the inviolability of the Head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the criminal liability, his/her detention or arrest, the search of his/her residence, working area, vehicle or a personal search may be admitted with the preliminary consent of the Parliament solely. Exception from this shall be catching the Chief in flagrante delicto (catching in the act of committing an offense), which shall be without delay reported to the Parliament. In the event that the Parliament, within the term of 48 hours, fails to give its consent, the detained or arrested person shall be immediately released.

It specifies one of the grounds for the termination of the authority of the Chief ahead of time, which is related to the occupation of a position thereby or the conduct of the activity incompatible with his/her position. At that, the Draft annuls the ground of the termination of his/her authority ahead of time, which is related to drug addiction or the refusal to pass the mandatory narcological test.

The Draft imposes the authority on the Bureau to grant the status of a whistle-blower (including anonymous), provide legal and/or mental aid and submit the information, document or evidence concerning the whistle-blowing to the respective body/agency.

The Bureau shall as well be entitled to address the LEPL Legal Aid Service with the appeal for free legal advice for the whistle-blower. The rule of the hereof authority shall be established under the Decree of the Chief of the Bureau. The amendments specify that the Bureau shall realize its authority in adherence to the requirements established under the Law on Personal Data Protection and the Child Code.