MOSCOW, March 16 (RAPSI) — The Government Commission on Legislative Drafting has considered draft amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, which clearly define rules for sending persons under investigation to psychiatric hospitals, Chair of the Association of Lawyers of Russia Vladimir Gruzdev informs RAPSI.

The draft amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure establish that courts are to be granted the right to send those under investigation for treatment to psychiatric hospitals for up to six months. If necessary, this period can be repeatedly extended for another six months each time. The six months period or treatment is not the only option under discussion. Thus, the Supreme Court of Russia proposes to set this time limit at two months, so lawmakers will have to decide which period is optimal, Gruzdev noted.

He clarified that the draft law deals with the situations where it is impossible to compete an investigation due to a person's condition.

This situation should not be confused with that where court prescribe compulsory medical measures with respect to persons who have committed crimes in a state of insanity, or who, after committing a crime, have a mental disorder that makes it impossible to impose punishment. The transfer of the person under investigation to a psychiatric hospital is a temporary measure and does not exclude the continuation of the investigation if the patient's condition improves, Gruzdev explained.