“Pravova derzhava”. Issue 37 (2026), pages 562–571.

DOI: 10.33663/0869-2491-2026-37-562-571

Zahynei-Zabolotenko Zoya
Reference (consolidated) texts of the Criminal and Ccriminal procedure codes of Ukraine: to the problem of understanding

ISSN online: 2617-9776 print: 0869-2491

The article highlights the issue of using the reference (consolidated) texts of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine in the course of law enforcement in criminal proceedings. It is established that the texts of the CC of Ukraine and the CPC of Ukraine, as well as the texts of any other regulatory legal acts, are posted on the oficial website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, namely, in the Legislation of Ukraine database, and also in the Unified State Register of Regulatory Legal Acts. Having analyzed the regulatory framework of these Internet platforms, the author concludes that the Legislation of Ukraine database is of an informational nature and is not an oficial printed publication, while the Unified State Register of Legal Acts contains the texts of legal acts in their controlling state, which ensures that these acts contain all the amendments and additions required by current legislation (reference (consolidated) texts). The author concludes that when resolving both criminal law and criminal procedure issues in a particular criminal proceeding, one should in any case be guided exclusively by the reference (consolidated) texts of the CC of Ukraine and the CPC of Ukraine, and not by the texts of these Codes posted on the oficial website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, since in this case the oficial and binding nature of the relevant texts of the CC of Ukraine and the CPC of Ukraine, as well as any other regulatory legal acts provided for by Ukrainian legislation, is not ensured. In case of discrepancies in the wording of criminal law and criminal procedure provisions in the reference (consolidated) texts of the CC of Ukraine and the CPC of Ukraine and in the texts of these Codes posted on the oficial website of the Parliament of Ukraine, the reference (consolidated) texts of the CC of Ukraine and the CPC of Ukraine shall be given preference. In this case, the rules of interpretation of criminal law and criminal procedure rules, in particular, the application of a criminal law or criminal procedure law more favorable to the accused, do not apply. In this case, it is not a matter of disputed interpretation of the relevant provision to be applied, but of deciding which text to use - the reference (consolidated) text or the one posted on the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, i.e., a formal issue is being resolved.

Keywords: reference (consolidated) text of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, reference (consolidated) text of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine, criminal proceedings, law enforcement, exemption from criminal liability, pre-trial investigation, Unified State Register of Regulatory Legal Acts, criminal offense, amendments and additions to the criminal and criminal procedure legislation of Ukraine, interpretation.

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Дата першого надходження рукопису до видання: 15.12.2025
Дата прийнятого до друку рукопису після рецензування: 03.03.2026
Дата публікації: 24.03.2026