Peculiarities of conducting investigative (search) actions during the investigation of the enforced disappearance of a person

Abstract

The article outlines the tactical principles of conducting such investigative (search) actions: inspection (last known whereabouts of the victim, her place of residence, probable place of the incident, vehicle owned or used by the person, things and documents); interrogation (of witnesses); search.
 On the basis of studied criminal proceedings, taking into account the specifics of committing illegal acts related to the enforced disappearance of a person, such investigative (search) actions are divided according to the territorial principle, in particular, when: a person disappeared on the territory controlled by Ukraine; the person disappeared in the territory not controlled by Ukraine. The peculiarities of the tactics of conducting investigative (search) actions - examination, questioning of the applicant and other eyewitnesses about the sources of the reported information and the known circumstances of the person’s disappearance are highlighted.
 It has been established that the purpose of conducting an inspection of the scene of the incident during the investigation of the enforced disappearance of a person is to: identify and record material evidence, traces, objects that are important for criminal proceedings; verification of testimony of witnesses about the circumstances of a criminal offense; clarification of the situation and circumstances of the criminal offense under investigation. Also, an important investigative (search) action during the investigation of crimes based on the fact of the enforced disappearance of a person is the questioning of a witness. First of all, we are talking about the questioning as a witness of the applicant who reported the disappearance of the person. During the interrogation of the witnesses, it is necessary to find out all the circumstances of the event known to them: time, place of the crime; circumstances preceding the commission of the crime; identity of the victim and possible kidnappers; if these persons are unknown to them - signs of their appearance, etc. The exact time the person left the last place of stay, the possible direction and route of movement, mobile phone number and IMEI of the subscriber, data on registration in social networks and e-mail inbox are subject to establishment. The specifics of the relationship between the applicant and the victim are clarified.