European Forum

Kremlin tightens grip on judiciary; democratic level declines

On Friday 22 May the state Duma passed in its third reading a bill to give the upper house the right to directly appoint the head of the Constitutional Court, who will be nominated by the president. President Dmitry Medvedev proposed the term increase. Among the judges of the Court there is major concern with the new law.

One of the judges, Gadis Gadzjijev, recently stated in an interview that the law contradicts the principle of an independent judiciary. A retired member of the Constitutional Court, Tamara Morsjtsjakova, stated earlier this month that this change retracts the democratic level within the country, as well an independent judiciary. According to Nikita Petrov, politician at the Carnegie think thank, the Kremlin is preparing a possible return of Vladimir Putin as President in case pre-term elections will be announced.

Currently, merely the 19 judges are named by the President. After which the upper house agrees with this nomination. The judges nevertheless had to choose their own chief. According to the new law also the chief judge's term of office will be extended from three to six years. The Constitutional court is one of Russia highest judicial authorities. It examines among other things law related to the constitution and plays an important role in the procedure of a possible impeachment of the President. The law is now only to be passed by the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia. It is expected that there will not be any resistance from within the upper house and the law will be formally passed.


Sources: Radio Svoboda; RianNews; NRC