The Federal Law is designed to extend the powers of defence attorneys to guarantee the constitutional rights of individuals suspected or accused of committing criminal offences to competent legal assistance.
The Federal Law was enacted in pursuance of the ruling made by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of October 25, 2001.
The law, in particular, gives defence attorneys the right to bring photocopiers and photographic equipment to the place of detention in order to make copies of case materials, as well as computers to carry out their professional duties.