The presentation took place at the Office of the Prosecutor General, attended by representatives of the prosecution, the National Police of Ukraine (NPU), the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine, and DSUIA representatives – Rector, Police Colonel Oleksandr Morhunov, and Professor of the Department of Criminal Procedure, Police Major Viktoriia Rohalska.
The manual, developed through collaboration between the Department of Peace Operations, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, was published in 2024. Initiated by JustGroup and supported by UNDP Ukraine / UNDP in Ukraine and the Government of Japan, it was translated into Ukrainian. Based on international standards, the manual provides step-by-step methodologies for conducting ethical and effective interviews without violence. It is designed for practical use by investigators, detectives, and prosecutors and is integrated into professional training systems.
Speakers at the presentation included: Judge of the European Court of Human Rights Mykola Hnatovskyi, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Jaco Cilliers, Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Ukraine Harsheth Virk, Director of Multilateral Cooperation at the International Department of the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights Gisle Kvanvig, Policy Advisor at the UN Department of Peace Operations Dmytro Alechkevych, Acting Prosecutor General Oleksii Khomenko, Deputy Head of the SBU Serhii Naumiuk, Deputy Head of the Main Investigative Department of the NPU Serhii Panteleiev, Deputy Director of NABU Polina Lysenko, Government Commissioner for the European Court of Human Rights Marharyta Sokorenko, and DSUIA Rector, Police Colonel Oleksandr Morhunov.
Oleksandr Morhunov emphasized the manual’s relevance and noted that DSUIA serves as a permanent platform for expert discussions on implementing procedural interviews in the activities of prosecution and pre-trial investigation bodies. DSUIA cadets regularly study this methodology during criminal procedure classes, while faculty members contribute to developing training programs and workshops for practitioners and educators in higher education institutions under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Commissioned by JustGroup, DSUIA is finalizing a training manual for educators and students, and a training session on procedural interviews is planned for faculty of criminal procedure and criminology departments in Ministry of Internal Affairs educational institutions.
During the event, a discussion panel featured Yurii Bielousov, Head of the Department at the Office of the Prosecutor General, Gisle Kvanvig from the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, and Volodymyr Vasylchuk, Head of the NABU Detectives Unit, who discussed the principles and practical application of procedural interviews.
Anna Giudice, Head of the Access to Justice Group at UNODC, presented an eLearning platform on procedural interviews, highlighting that the online course can be integrated into educational programs in Ukraine and abroad, combining distance learning with practical training. The event was moderated by JustGroup Head Vasylina Yavorska. Participants exchanged experiences and outlined further steps for implementing procedural interviews in practical activities and educational processes, which will enhance the effectiveness of criminal investigations.
— 49