The Supreme Court called for fewer detainees in custody

The Supreme Court of Russia believes that instead of taking the accused into custody, it is necessary to use other preventive measures. This was announced by the head of the Supreme Court Vyacheslav Lebedev at the Meeting of Chairmen of the Supreme Courts of the SCO Member States.

“Strengthening the legal protection of suspects and defendants is facilitated by the legal positions of the Supreme Court of Russia on the wider application of preventive measures not related to detention,” said Mr. Lebedev (quoted from RAPSI). According to him, the number of those arrested by court decision has decreased by four times compared to the period when arrests were chosen by prosecutors.

The head of the Supreme Court also drew attention to the inadmissibility of refusals to remove a criminal record due to the severity of the crime, the presence of other convictions, the leniency of the sentence served, or the person’s non-recognition of his guilt. So, according to him, Russian courts last year granted 65% of petitions for the removal of a criminal record.

In May, 50 out of 203 pre-trial detention centers in Russia were overcrowded, as informed Igor Vedinyapin, head of the department for the execution of sentences and special records of the Federal Penitentiary Service. In his opinion, it is necessary to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation on the more frequent appointment of preventive measures alternative to arrest.

Anastasia Larina