The role of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in the process of introducing digital technologies into criminal proceedings

Modern social relations are undergoing serious changes under the influence of objective circumstances in all spheres of human activity. Judicial proceedings as an institution for the protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of man and citizen should be modernized as much as possible, according to current requirements, while maintaining its essence. One of the current trends in judicial proceedings is the digitalization and application of the online format of trial. The special features of criminal proceedings and its essence require a special approach of using videoconferencing while criminal trial. The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation was the first to use video conferencing technology during the trial, thereby demonstrating its capabilities. The consideration of cases by the Supreme Court of Russia in an online format demonstrated the effectiveness of digital technologies using, simultaneously helped to reduce court costs. At the same time, the draft legislative regulation of the trial using video conferencing demonstrated a cautious approach to the digitalization of criminal proceedings for a number of reasons, which will be discussed in this article.

Clarifications of the Supreme Court of Russia on informatization issues in the relevant Concept approved by the Order of the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated February 15, 2021 No. 9-P are of great importance for the digitalization of legal proceedings. Having analyzed the current situation of the introduction of videoconferencing in court proceedings, the authors come to the conclusion of necessity for legislative regulation of court proceedings in an online format, especially criminal one.