Protection of rights and legitimate interests of individuals affected by crime in criminal proceedings

Criminal proceedings are intended to protect individuals and entities affected by crime. In the context of the ongoing reforms of criminal procedure legislation, the legal status of parties to criminal proceedings, including victims, is to be changed. The research examines the issues of ensuring the rights and legitimate interests of individuals affected by crime. The paper reviews the ways of protecting rights and legitimate interests of individuals and entities affected by crime in terms of science and judicial practice. Besides, the problems of their implementation are revealed. Based on the survey findings, the author provides recommendations for improving the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of individuals affected by crime throughout the criminal proceedings, including the pre-trial stages.