The Adversarial Principle in Criminal Proceedings in the Digital Format under the Sanitary and Epidemiologic Regulations (Covid-19)

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on the issues in the implementation of digital technologies under the adversarial principle during pre-trial proceedings under the sanitary and epidemiologic restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19. We highlight the active use of digital technology during the trial stage and its detailed legal regulation stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, as compared with the pre-trial proceedings. We suggest possible solutions through the implementation of digital technology in pre-trial proceedings as in the trial stage. We discuss the advantages of the electronic format of criminal case files that will be beneficial for the realization of the adversarial principle in the pre-trial proceedings.