Putin signed the law on investigators to initiate tax affairs

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing investigators to initiate tax crimes. Previously, this could only be done based on the materials of the tax authorities.

Law enforcement practice has shown that in many cases this order significantly complicates the use of the results of operational-search measures in the criminal process and negatively affects the effectiveness of the disclosure of tax crimes, the Kremlin legal administration said.

Earlier, the bill was adopted by the State Duma and approved by the Federation Council.

The business opposed the endowment of the Investigative Committee by the right to initiate tax affairs. The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, “Business Russia” and “Rossiy Russia” proposed amendments, according to which neither the Investigative Committee nor the Federal Tax Service would have a non-alternative right to make a decision on the presence of a crime. However, the business community could not defend a single amendment to the bill.

Human rights activists also criticized the innovation, believing that it gives the investigating authorities a serious tool for pressure on business.