The criminal trial will become more efficient and the judging of causes will take place with less procrastinations. In this respect, the cabinet of ministers approved amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and Contravention Code, which will allow the law-enforcement institutions instrumenting the files in a shorter period.

Thus, provisions hindering a good carrying out of the judicial process will be liquidated, for instance, the change of the headquarters or of the panel of judges. At the same time, the court session will be able to be postponed only once, at a justified request by the defendant, defender of prosecutor.    

Also, in the draft, the cabinet revised the provisions on the admission, nomination and replacement of the defender. In the situations when the defender is absent groundlessly or refuses to exercise the defence, he/she will be replaced for the period of unjustified absence.   

At the same time, under the draft, the use by courts of videoconference for detained people will be extended. Their hearing through videoconference will take place in the presence of an elected or nominated defender. Also, witnesses will be able to be heard through videoconference, if their presence at court sessions will not be possible.  

The draft law also sees an agreement on cooperation between accused people and law-enforcement institutions. Therefore, people who recognize their guilt and want to cooperate with the inquiry will be able to negotiate the category of punishment and the form of its serving. This procedure regards only the prosecutor’s offices specialized in fighting corruption and organized crime.