State Duma’s Security Committee head Vladimir Vasiliev has appreciated the danger that the prosecutors encounter when dealing with the trial by jury.
Photo: Vasily Deryugin
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State Duma Amends Essence of Trial by Jury
The RF State Duma is willing to introduce on Friday the amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, which will significantly lower the number of cases tried by the jury. The cases of persons accused of committing terror acts, spying, subversive actions, high treason and staging mass riots will be the concern of the ordinary court, where the sentences of acquittal aren’t so frequent.
The bill on amending certain legislative acts of the RF related to terrorist confrontation has been elaborated and submitted to the State Duma by Vladimir Vasiliev, who heads its security committee, and his deputy Mikhail Grishankov. Both legislators are from the United Russia faction.
Vasiliev and Grishankov suggest toughening punishment for the crimes committed during terrorist acts (killing, taking of hostages) and introducing additional responsibility for assistance to terrorists.
The bill entails the need to adjust the strength of judges for trying certain categories of cases, i.e. the need to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure. According to lawmakers, the terrorists shouldn’t count on jurors’ trial. Instead, their cases are to be heard by the chamber of three judges. In addition to terrorism, the MPs propose to relieve jurors of participation in a raft of other trials.
The timing of the United Russia’s initiative is interesting. The bill was added to the State Duma’s agenda on the day when President Dmitry Medvedev called for the humanization of judicial system at the Congress of Judges.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Dec. 03, 2008
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