The delegation of the State Bureau of Investigation (the SBI) spearheaded by the Deputy Director met CoE institutions during a working visit to Strasbourg.
"We highly value support provided to the SBI by the CoE and while we admit there is a number of challenges to overcome on the way to our full-fledged effectiveness, we do see development in line with European standards and application of best respective practices as our only strategic road ahead", - underlined Mr. Oleksandr Sokolov, Deputy Director of the SBI.
"It is of utmost value for us to communicate about needs and challenges you're facing directly. Providing support to SBI will remain on our radar", - said Lilja Gretarsdottir, Head of Cooperation Programmes Division, Department for the Implementation of Human Rights, Justice and Legal Cooperation Standards of the Directorate General for Human Rights and the Rule of Law of the Council of Europe.
Visit program included meetings with the Head of the Cooperation Programmes Division, Head of the Unit on Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia, Lawyer of the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights, Head of Division of the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, Advisor on Ukraine of the Office of the CoE Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It as well included discussions on practical aspects of cooperation between the SBI and the CoE and on respective expertise provided to support SBI intitutional development.
During the visit particular emphasis was made on SBI's exclusive role in effective investigation into alleged ill-treatment by law-enforcers, desirable and needed steps ahead as to strengthening instition's operational functioning and stabilisation, areas of further support from the CoE to be provided within the framework of future cooperation.
The visit is s part of CoE project "Supporting Institutions to Combat Ill-Treatment in Ukraine"
