The report provides a general overview of the pre-trial investigation and the court of appeal hearing in a criminal case in St. Petersburg (Russia) and offers some recommendations based on the main findings.
Having received credible information about possible violations of fair trial principles in a criminal case in St. Petersburg, the ICJ took a decision to send a Mission of observation at the appeal hearing on case # 1-553/10; # 22-2154/2011 at the Saint Petersburg City Court against Gurgen Stepanyan, Vardan Sakanyan, Tigran Arutyunyan. The report provides a general overview of the pre-trial investigation and the court of appeal hearing. As explained below, the appeal hearing was held in camera and despite a request by the ICJ request that it be open for observers, it was closed.
Nevertheless the ICJ observers were able to meet with the Deputy President of the Court and with lawyers involved in the case, and to study documents in the case. The observers express their gratitude to all who met with them and who assisted in the Mission.
Russia-appeal hearing Saint Petersburg-trial observation report-2012-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Russia-appeal hearing Saint Petersburg-trial observation report-2012-rus (full text in Russian, PDF)