The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed the Law "On amendments into some legislative acts on the activities of Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) of Ukraine" (No.4645).

Some 258 lawmakers voted for the changes at a parliament sitting on Thursday.

According to bill, a citizen of Ukraine with higher education and at least 5 years experience working in the field of law, or in legislative/law enforcement structures may become prosecutor general.

The law withdraws the requirement that a candidate for the post of prosecutor general have higher juridical education.

The law foresees the establishment of a General Inspection Office within the PGO. The office will provide materials for the PGO to submit to the State Bureau of Investigations.

According to the bill, Ukrainian citizens with at least three-year job experience in the field of law can become prosecutors in regional prosecutor's offices.

Under current legislation, this post can be held only by persons with at least five years experience working in the field of law.

The law permits a person with at least 5 years work experience in the field of law to become prosecutors in the Prosecutor General's Office

The law also amends the procedure for conviction in absentia, according to which special (in absentia) pre-trial investigation and court trials take place, the procedure for listing individuals on inter-state and international wanted lists or persons who have been hiding from police for over six months. The changes also apply to persons outside of Ukraine, in the temporarily occupied territories (in eastern Ukraine), or located close to the anti-terrorist operation area (in Luhansk and Donetsk regions).

These changes will be incorporated into law by April 1, 2017.

The law comes into force on the day it is published.