Parliament passes law on use of military equipment, weapons by border guards

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, 271 MPs voted for a respective bill, No. 5232, at second reading at a parliament meeting on Thursday, November 18.

The document provides for the introduction of amendments to the law "On the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine" to improve the procedure for the use and application of coercive measures, military equipment and weapons, to regulate the procedure for visual inspection by SBGS personnel while performing tasks on the protection of the state border and sovereign rights of Ukraine in its adjacent area and in the exclusive (maritime) economic zone.

It is proposed that service members, as well as SBGS employees, be granted the right to carry out, on the grounds and in the manner prescribed by law, visual inspection of persons, things and vehicles, personal inspection of detainees and inspect and, if necessary, seize items that may serve as material evidence or harm human life or health.

The law establishes the conditions and limits, type and intensity of the use of coercive measures, taking into account a specific situation, the nature of the offense and the individual characteristics of the person who committed the offense.

The law defines the peculiarities of the application of a measure or means of coercion: physical influence, application and use of special means, firearms, weapons and military equipment, weapons of ships, boats and aircraft weapons, the use of weapons and military equipment in a special period, and visual inspection.

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