MOSCOW, April 7 (RIA Novosti) - The chairman of Russia's Supreme Court said Friday that too many defendants are being acquitted under the jury-trial system being phased into use nationwide.
Vyacheslav Lebedev said the acquittal rate under jury trial was 18%, against 3% in ordinary courts in 2005, adding that higher courts overturned 43% of acquittals.
"I believe this is happening as the new [jury] system is developing in Russia," Lebedev said.
The right to trial by jury is enshrined in Russia's 1993 Constitution. A law enforcing the right came into effect July 1, 2003, and the system will be in effect nationwide by 2007.
Lebedev said the high acquittal rate was often due to investigators doing their work badly. "Investigators and operatives should collect evidence without violating the law. Otherwise, acquittals will be the result," Lebedev said.
He also said jurors should be isolated from information and commentaries on trials.
