Certain Solutions in the Law on Amendments to the Law on Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Srpska
Summary: The author deals with the new position of the injured party in criminal proceedings, persons who may refuse to testify and exceptions from the direct presentation of evidence due to the unavailability of witnesses after the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Republika Srpska from 2021. Starting from the current regulation of this matier, pointing to the solutions in the comparative legislation, the analysis of these changes indicates the consequences of such inconsistent and in some institutes unnecessary and erroneous standardization of this sensitive matter. Attention is drawn to the contradiction between the decision on the privileged witness and juvenile legislation, which is in line with the conventions protecting their position, and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In that sense, the legislator is critically pointed out the shortcomings of certain solutions and suggests appropriate changes and additions in order to eliminate the problems that may arise during their practical application.
Keywords: injured party, witness, juvenile, rejection, unavailable.
Apstrakt: Autor se u radu bavi novim položajem oštećenog u krivičnom postupku, lica koja mogu odbiti svjedočenja i izuzecima od neposrednog izvođenja dokaza zbog nedostupnosti svjedoka po izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o krivičnom postupku Republike Srpske iz 2021. godine. Polazeći od dosadašnjeg uređenja ove materije, ukazujući na rješenja u uporednom zakonodavstvu, analizom ovih izmjena ukazauje na posljedice ovakvog nedosljednog i kod pojedinih instituta nepotrebnog i pogrešnog normiranja te osjetljive materije. Skreće se pažnja na suprotnost rješenja o privilegovanom svjedoku maloljetničkom zakonodavstvu, koje je usklađeno sa konvencijama koje štite njihov položaj, i Evropskoj konvenciji za zaštitu ljudskih prava i osnovnih sloboda. U tom smislu zakonodavcu se kritički ukazuje na nedostatke pojedinih rješenja i sugerišu odgovarajuće promjene i dopune radi otklanjanja problema do kojih može doći prilikom njihove praktične primjene.
Ključne riječi: oštećeni, svedok, maloljetnik, odbijanje, nedostupan.