14:55, 15 February 2008

Officials-lawbreakers are not trialled in Kabardino-Balkaria

On February 14, the Judicial Department of Kabardino-Balkaria held a Collegium sitting to sum up the work of the courts in 2007. Leila Zanikoeva, Deputy Chair of the Supreme Court, spoke at the sitting and noted that out of 41 officials, brought to criminal liability in 2007, none was actually punished. 12 of them escaped responsibility "for reconciliation of the parties" and 7 more were acquitted.

"The correctness to stop these categories of cases for reconciliation of the parties causes doubts. Officials not only break citizens' rights but also cause harm to the state, and the courts should take it into account," Ms Zanikoeva has emphasized.

Leila Zanikoeva spoke with bewilderment that frequently judges stop cases for reconciliation of the parties upon a petition of the defendant, not a victim. Meanwhile, the reconciliation initiative should come from the victim only, and the latter should be paid moral damage.

Author: Luiza Orazayeva, CK correspondent