MOSCOW, May 23 (RAPSI) – The State Duma has passed in the first reading bills on mandatory audio recording of court hearings in civil and criminal cases.

According to the bills authored by Russian President Vladimir Putin, in case of and incompleteness of these recordings there is an option to file an appeal.

Other proposed changes include clarification of a judge assistant’s procedural role and a new option for a court to move from preliminary hearings in civil and commercial cases to the main hearings if there are no obstacles for this transition.

In addition, the bills envision the use of automated information system that should prevent sides from being able to influence the allocation of court cases to certain judges.