OSCE Office helps organize conference on jury trials in Azerbaijan

BAKU, 18 March 2005 - Prospects for the introduction of jury trials in Azerbaijan are being discussed at a conference that opened today in Baku.

It brings together over 70 government officials, judges, defence lawyers, legal practitioners, academics and NGO activists, representing a wide spectrum of the legal community of Azerbaijan.

"This conference is designed as a platform to discuss the pros and cons of introduction of a jury system in Azerbaijan," said Robin Seaword, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office Baku, opening the conference. "There is no international obligation to try someone before a bench of professional judges or before jurors and it's up to Azerbaijan to decide whichever way it wants to go".

"Every system has its advantages and disadvantages - both can be flawed if the government and the lawyers don't have the will to make it work," he added

Azerbaijan's Criminal Procedure Code introduces the possibility of a jury trial in cases in which the accused is charged with grave crimes. But so far no jury trials have been conducted because the section on jury trials has been suspended.

Farhad Abdullayev, Chairman of Azerbaijan's Constitutional Court, said: "There is immense interest in society in the jury system. And there are both supporters and opponents of its introduction in the country's judiciary. We believe that this event will greatly stimulate further discussion among all interested sides on prospects of introduction of the jury system in Azerbaijan."

Speakers from Germany, Russia and the United States will share their experience on jury trials. The event is jointly organized with the Azerbaijani Constitutional Court, the Embassy of the United States in Baku and the American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative.