MOSCOW, March 14 (RAPSI) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted a bill to the State Duma expanding practice of jury trials, according to the database of the lower house of parliament.

The initiative is aimed to expand the use of jury trial for further development and strengthening of democratic fundamental principles of criminal procedure, enhancement of justice openness and citizens’ trust towards court system, according to an explanatory note attached to the document.

Under the bill, individuals accused of committing grave crimes against person submitted to jurisdiction of a district court and garrison military court would gain a right to apply for trial by a panel of judges of a district court or federal general jurisdiction court and six jurors.

The bill also proposes reducing number of jurors from 12 to 8 people.