Dmitry Medvedev instructed the Prime Minister to issue a government resolution setting out the procedures for medical checkups for those suspected and accused of committing crimes and for whom detention in custody can be replaced by other restraint measures in cases when they turn out to be suffering from serious illness. The resolution, which is also to contain a list of the serious illnesses which would prevent suspects and defendants from being held in custody, is to be issued in furtherance to the submission to the State Duma of the draft law On Amendments to Article 110 of the Russian Federation Criminal Procedure Code and Article 24 of the Federal Law On Pre-trial Detention of Persons Suspected and Accused of Committing Crimes.
The President draw particular attention in his instruction to the need to prevent people from being held in custody when it is not possible to properly treat their illnesses in such an environment, and also stressed the need for medical checkups carried out by independent medical experts.
The Government has been requested to have the resolution ready no later than the State Duma passes the draft law in the second reading.