Over the past month, in order to monitor the observance of the rights of trial participants, DPR Ombudsman representatives attended 11 court hearings of the courts of the first instance and appeal courts of the Donetsk People’s Republic, as a response to the appeals received.
Thus, the human rights defenders attended 7 criminal court hearings and 4 civil court hearings.
Representatives of the Ombudsman attend court sessions based on written appeals from the trial participants, which must contain data confirming the circumstances of the biased consideration by the court of a particular case and the violation of the rights of the participant determined by procedural law.
Also, it is worth noting that according to the Law of the Donetsk People’s Republic of August 31, 2018 No. 241-INS “On the Judicial System of the Donetsk People’s Republic”, the courts decide the cases alone, truly independent from any outside influence whatsoever, subject only to the Constitution of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the law. The presence of the Ombudsman or her representative at a hearing shall not affect the decision of the court.
