Medvedev Opposed to Cancellation of Trial By Jury
MOSCOW. Feb 2 (Interfax) - Russia must promote trial by jury despite the difficulties, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said.
"On the one hand, I realize that we must definitely promote this institution. On the other, it will not be an eye opener for you if I say that our jurors are vulnerable, unfortunately," he said at a Tuesday session of the Council for Human Rights.
The president said that the standard of jurors greatly depends on the standard of society. "Judges are not separated from the public and have all the same problems with it. Jurors are integrated in civil institutions, in civil life even more and as you know a very powerful influence is being placed on them," he said.
This does not mean that "we must shut down this institution even though I will repeat once again that in the 1990s we were under the influence of certain illusions about the universal nature of trial by jury," Medvedev said.
"Probably, you will disapprove of what I say nevertheless I must note that I am not sure that trial by jury is the best form of handling, say bribery cases," the president said.
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