ՊԱՇՏՈՆԱԿԱՆ ԵՎ ՓԱՍՏԱՑԻ ՔՐԵԱԿԱՆ ՀԵՏԱՊՆԴՈՒՄ ՀԱՐՈՒՑԵԼԸ. ՍԱՀՄԱՆԱԴՐԱԿԱՆ ԵՎ ՔՐԵԱԴԱՏԱՎԱՐԱԿԱՆ ՎԵՐԼՈՒԾՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ / FORMAL AND SUBSTANTIVE (DE FACTO) INITIATION OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. CONSTITUTIONAL AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURAL ANALYSIS

<jats:p>This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the institution of initiating criminal prosecution, its theoretical foundations, and issues of practical implementation. The author distinguishes between the constitutional and procedural perceptions of initiating criminal prosecution, detailing the concepts of formal (official) and substantive (de facto) prosecution. Special attention is paid to the issue of considering detention as an act of overt substantive prosecution and the ensuing problem when, in the absence of official initiation of prosecution against the detained person, they are left "under suspicion" indefinitely. As a solution to this problem, the article argues that the calculation of criminal prosecution time limits should begin from the moment of substantive prosecution, particularly from detention, which would ensure the protection of individual rights and prevent circumvention of legal provisions regarding prosecution time limits.</jats:p>