MOSCOW, April 10 (RAPSI) – Russia’s Justice Ministry has proposed to assign court-appointed lawyers using an automated information system, the ministry’s statement reads.

The Justice Ministry currently drafts a relevant bill to amend the Criminal Procedure Code.

The bill is aimed to implement the bar independence principle eliminating the influence of investigators and courts on dividing dock brief duties among attorneys, according to the ministry’s statement.

Under the draft law, if an appointed lawyer failed to appear in court a new attorney would be assigned with the use of the electronic information system. In these circumstances, testimony given by suspects, accused persons during pre-trial procedure with the participation of a lawyer appointed with the breach of requirements, which were not later confirmed by defendants in court, would be considered as inadequate evidence.