RA Ministry of Justice proposes legalizing consideration of appeals  in written proceedings

ArmInfo.  The Ministry of Justice of Armenia proposes enshrining a general legislative presumption that appeals be considered in written proceedings. A maximum time limit for appeal consideration is also established. The  draft law on amendments and additions to the Criminal Procedure Code  of the Republic of Armenia is being discussed at the plenary session  of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on November 11.

As Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Tigran  Dadunts noted in his speech, written proceedings in criminal  proceedings are nothing new. Certain cases are already considered in  written proceedings. The current draft includes these cases in full  appellate proceedings, with the exception of certain cases, such as  when, at the request of the parties or on their own initiative, the  court concludes that the appeal should be heard orally, or when the  Court of Appeals grants a party's motion to present new evidence or  examine it.

The draft also proposes reviewing appeals within a six-month period,  with the legislative option to extend this period by up to four  months by a reasoned court decision.

"Adoption of the draft law will reduce the courts' workload by  introducing a written appeals review procedure, ensure reasonable,  shortened case review times, and, in terms of ensuring proper  notification of judicial decisions, provide a realistic and objective  opportunity to fulfill the requirement to send a court decision to  the parties within the timeframes established by the Code," noted the  Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia.