#5
BBC Monitoring
Russia's Putin stresses importance of new judicial and
pension laws
Source: Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 1100 gmt 17 Dec 01
[Newsreader] We will begin with an important political event. Today Russian President Vladimir Putin signed two decrees confirming the most important federal packages of laws - on pension and judicial reform. And this is the subject with which Putin began his meeting with the cabinet of ministers today. Speaking on the laws on judicial reform, the president said the new criminal procedure code was the most important document.
[Putin] I believe that this is a very important stage in the process of modernizing our state. Of course, first of all, I ought to draw your attention to the new criminal procedure code. It is exceptionally important that the new legislation strictly conforms to the constitutional requirements in the area of human rights safeguards. May I remind you that decisions, for example, on taking someone into custody may now be adopted only by a court. This is a very important provision. The right of the defendant for his case to be examined by a jury is guaranteed in all regions of the Russian Federation. There will be a balance between the rights of the lawyers and the prosecutors in the judicial process. The participation of a defence lawyer in all criminal cases is now mandatory. The process is now a true contest. The prosecutor becomes one of the sides in the process, responsible for a substantiated criminal prosecution and charges.
[Newsreader] The president also dwelt on two other laws that have been signed - the status of judges and the constitutional court. He stressed that the amendment of additions on the status of judges will provide additional guarantees of their independence. In particular, local authorities will not take part in the process of appointing judges. Also, the judges' liability to disciplinary measures will be increased, the issue of suspending their powers has been resolved, and the age limit for judges has been established.
[Newsreader] Speaking on the pension laws, the president noted above all that the old system for calculating pensions was extremely involved and at times incomprehensible even to specialists. Following lengthy consultations, according to the president, the country has now got a very high quality document.
[Putin] Above all, the new system is comprehensible and fair. It guarantees the so-called basic level pension irrespective of length of employment and earnings. The basic level will be provided by the state. The cumulative part of the pension will depend on the labour contribution and the citizen will be able to transfer funds to the pension fund if he so wishes, which will later be paid to him in addition to the designated basic pension.
Thus, the new system creates a stimulus to earn for one's old age and the opportunity for citizens to plan their standard of living in retirement. We have managed to preserve the right to receive two pensions, namely the right to receive pensions for the disabled and participants in World War II and members of families who have lost their breadwinner in combat actions, that is, to preserve the so-called social pension, as well as the pension they are entitled to in old age, also the right to receive pensions for working pensioners.
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