CLOSED COURT HEARING AS AN INDEPENDENT SECURITY MEASURE FOR PARTICIPANTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

Abstract

The publicity of the trial in the Russian criminal trial has been one of the important provisions for several decades and is expressed in the realization of the right of citizens to be present in court when considering and resolving a criminal case. However, an open criminal court may be limited if the grounds listed in Part 2 of Art. 241 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation are established as an exception to the general condition of the trial. One of these grounds is a closed court hearing, which is considered as an independent form of ensuring the safety of participants in the process and their loved ones. The creation of safe conditions for citizens to participate in the court session allows the court to establish and verify the evidence collected in the case (Article 73 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation). At the same time, security applies not only to participants from the defense or prosecution, other participants in the process, but also in relation to the court (judge). A closed hearing is one of several security measures (part 3 of article 11 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation). The decision of the matter and the holding of a trial in private can only be determined if there are strictly established procedural grounds. Such a decision should be motivated.