NOVO-OGARYOVO, February 9. /TASS/. The Russian court system has successfully adapted itself to new conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday during a session with judges on the outcomes of 2020 and the goals for 2021.
The Russian leader thanked all Russian judges "who determined and implemented an optimal algorithm of their activity in the difficult conditions of a pandemic." "We are all talking about doctors, and that’s justified, we thank them for their selfless labor, but I must also say that it’s worthy of respect that our country’s court system did not stall during the difficult period of the infection spread," Putin noted.
He stressed that in some countries, "up to 50% of cases were postponed until a much later date." "On the contrary, our system functioned without disruption, the courts showed commitment to their higher mission and despite the risks related to the epidemic, they worked at maximum capacity, protecting the rights of citizens, the interests of society and the state," the president said.
Putin noted that "last year, more cases were considered than in 2019, inter alia because citizens and businesses sought court protection more often." "And this confirms the rising trust in court procedures," he added.
Development of judiciary system
The national judiciary system develops constantly, generating the most relevant initiatives, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated. "It is very important that the process of improvement of the judicial system in our country proceeds without interruption.<…> The most progressive, the most relevant initiatives emerge precisely in the judicial community," the head of state said.
He noted that he always disagreed with the skeptics that claim that the judicial system cannot reform and develop itself. "As we see, it can and actually does develop successfully, cautiously reacting to changes in society and the world, considering the social and political trends, problems and threats," the president said, adding that the Supreme Court analyzes proposals coming from other courts and develops and introduces new ways to improve the quality of judicial activity.
The president noted that, in 2020, the courts were allowed to postpone hearings due to the epidemiological situation. "The increased number of reviewed cases last year indicates that the Russian courts were not content with the minimum program, opting for the maximum instead; they started dividing cases in categories of importance. They reviewed almost all citizens' applications, believing that every situation that requires a court hearing is vital for a specific person and their family," the head of state underscored, adding that the social orientation of justice was preserved in full.
The president also touched upon the issue of establishment of a uniform judicial practice, adding that the Supreme Court issued a number of reviews on this issue and provided the courts with explanations on the application of laws.
"The practice reviews on labor and social issues were the most detailed and voluminous - these issues are the most acute [at the time of the pandemic]," Putin said. He cited the review of practice on labor issues, in which the Supreme Court protected the rights of employees in various layoff disputes; in particular, the Supreme Court prohibited applying severe penalties for absence under a serious excuse.