The State Duma Committee approved a draft ban on the participation of jurors in the cases of organized criminal groups

The State Duma Committee on State Construction and Legislation recommended the adoption in the first reading of amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation, which remove cases of organizers of criminal communities from the jurisdiction of jury trials. The project was sponsored by senators Andrei Klishas and Vladimir Poletaev, as well as Duma deputy Irina Pankina.

Justifying the need to amend the current procedural legislation, the authors of the amendment in an explanatory note recalled that at present, cases against leaders of criminal communities can be considered by a jury. But such norms do not fully take into account the need to ensure increased security measures for participants in criminal proceedings, including jurors, as well as the legal features of the relevant offenses that require high professional training from participants in the process.