MOSCOW, September 25 (RAPSI) – The State Duma has passed in the third and final reading a bill amending the Criminal Procedural Code of Russia, bringing it into congruency with a recently passed law establishing independent cassation and appeals courts of general jurisdiction.

The bill was prepared by the Supreme Court of Russia. The amendments specify a procedure for challenging court rulings in cassation and appeals courts as well as review of court rulings due to newly revealed circumstances of a case.

The document also specifies a procedure for cassation review of court rulings depending on what court passed its judgement, whether a ruling is final or not and what a court should review it. Most of the amendments are expected to come into force when cassation and appeals courts will become operational.

On July 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed law on establishment of independent cassation and appeals courts of general jurisdiction.

The State Duma, the Parliament’s lower house, adopted the bill on July 17 and the Federation Council approved it on July 24.

The law envisages creation of 9 cassation and 5 appeals courts of general jurisdiction within relevant judicial circuits that involve territories of several subjects of the Russian Federation.

According to the Supreme Court, it is necessary to create certain judicial levels for establishment of independent courts considering appeals. Currently, the legality of judgments is being considered by courts issuing these rulings.

Putin earlier supported this initiative stating that creation of cassation and appeals courts would give new opportunities for appealing judicial acts and enhance independence of these instances.