MOSCOW, October 25 - RAPSI. The Supreme Court has proposed granting district courts the authority to hear cases dealing with serious crimes, with penalties that would not exceed 20 years in prison. This would include kidnapping, hostage taking, organized crime and terrorism when murder is not implicated.

This change in authority is written in the Supreme Court's draft law stipulating amendments in the Criminal Procedural Code to be effective January 1, 2013. The change also implies that district courts will hold appellate proceedings over criminal cases.

Supreme Court judge Alexander Chervotkin told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) that following this, the workload at republic, territorial and regional courts will increase, because "they will take on some of the work previously carried out by first instance courts."

The Supreme Court believes the role of district courts should be increased. The appellate proceedings will include a review of the evidence, and witness and expert interviews, all of which will eventually result in a greater workload and longer trial times.

After an appellate procedure, a case will only be submitted for reconsideration to the court of first instance for exceptional cases if substantial violations were committed (for example, a case is heard by an unlawful court panel or if procedural rules are violated).

In the bill, the Supreme Court has also proposed that the appellate instance cannot pass an indictment by nullifying an acquittal. In this example, the appellate instance will have to submit the case for reconsideration to the court of first instance.