President Medvedev speaks in favour of an independent judiciary.

The Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says that the chief goal in reforming the judicial system is to ensure the independence of the courts. At a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the development of the judicial system he defined the main ways in which it should be reformed.

“Our chief goal is the practical impendence of the courts. There is a well-known principle that the courts are subject only to the law. This in essence is the foundation of respect for the courts and of a belief in a fair trial. That is the fundamental task,” stressed Medvedev. An entire range of interlinked issues must be tackled in order to work towards that goal, he said.

Above all measures must be taken to eliminate unjust decisions. “These are decisions which, as we know, have been taken and arise as a result of various forms of pressure, telephone calls and, it must be admitted, bribery,” said the president. Furthermore, it is essential, he said, to adopt a number of measures that will ensure that decisions are taken rapidly on the occasions that it proves possible. “I have in mind the elimination of red tape, naturally, not to the detriment of the proper examination of the cases,” he noted.

The Head of State also noted that a number of normative acts must be clarified and changes in legislation must be prepared, “perhaps as concerns credentials collegia and terms of office”. [...]

Interfax, 20.05.2008