Idirov, E.I. Formation of the institution of an investigating judge: some specific features of criminal process in Kazakhstan

Abstract: The article provides analysis of some provisions of the draft Criminal Procedural Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which concern the forming institution of an investigating judge at the pre-trial stage of proceedings. The experience of the European states and the CIS states used in the process of drafting shows the importance of widening the scope of the judicial controlling competence at the stage of investigation of a criminal case in order to guarantee judicial protection of rights and freedoms of persons involved in a criminal process. The draft of the new Criminal Procedural Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan is being discussed at the Parliament of Kazakhstan, and it has been approved in the first reading. It is planned that the new Code should enter into force on July 1, 2014. The article uses historical legal and comparative legal methods based upon the studies of positive experience of the foreign states of Roman-German legal system. The institution of an investigating judge has a long history and it has been efficiently functioning in a number of civilized states. Introduction of this position is novel for the Republic of Kazakhstan, that is why, the author discusses some specific features of activities of an investigating judge and also provides opinions of lawyers regarding the draft law. The author makes proposals on the improvement of the legal status and immediate broadening of a competence of an investigating judge.

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