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Russia president approves law ending jury trials for treason and terrorism

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday signed into law amendments to the country's penal code ending jury trials for terrorism or treason suspects and giving prosecutors broader investigative authority on terrorism or treason related cases. The suspects will now be tried by a panel of three judges. Proponents of the changes say they will strengthen the government's ability to combat terrorism, and the amendments easily passed  both houses of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and the Federation Council, last month. Critics of the changes say they will decrease transparency in the Russian judicial system, particularly if another law expanding the definition of treason is passed. Opponents also say the combination of the two measures could allow the government to take unchecked action against political dissenters. Both measures follow what has been seen as a general Russian trend towards increased government power. In July 2007, then-President Vladimir Putin approved tough amendments to Russia's law against extremism. An international panel of jurists reported earlier that year that expanded Russian anti-terrorism laws were leading to human rights abuses. In 2006, Putin signed a bill giving Russian police and military broad authority to tap telephone conversations and control electronic communications in the vicinity of counter-terror operations, shoot down hijacked planes threatening public places or strategic facilities, and deal with the aftermath of terrorist attacks.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 02, 2009 (boomark / email).