Events

5 Apr 2019

Call to step up efforts to introduce information technologies in Belarusian courts

MINSK, 5 April (BelTA) – Modern reality requires faster work to introduce information technologies in the court system. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during the government conference held on 5 April to improve the operation of general jurisdiction courts, BelTA has learned.

The head of state told participants of the conference: “The use of information technologies in your work will allow reducing court expenses. Courts have the necessary tools to record court proceedings.”

The president wondered how Belarusian judges intend to use cutting-edge technologies and why they cannot stop using hardcopy protocols of court proceedings right now. The head of state is convinced it is time to embrace digital court proceedings: “We should make the transition to digital rails by 1 September 2020. All the sessions of the Supreme Court should proceed without paper. You can use paper only if someone needs to take hardcopy notes in rare cases.”

As far as the other courts are concerned, Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed the head of the Belarus President Administration to consider the possibility of fully digitizing Belarusian courts all over the country by the specified deadline. The head of state also gave instructions to invite the Hi-Tech Park and the Operations and Analysis Center to help accomplish the goal.

At the same time the president warned the judges they would bear more responsibility if court proceedings are accompanied by complete audio and video records. “You will be in plain sight, including your eloquence and professional skills. Every little thing that court secretaries may have decided not to record in the past will be visible now. This system will require you to improve your professional skills and improve your aesthetic, so to speak. But we should work for it. I am interested in it and the state as a whole is interested in it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“These innovations will make the administration of justice much more open and transparent. The availability of digital court procedures affects international ratings, which judge the level of development and investment appeal of our country,” the president noted.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said that the private sector often suggests amending the legislation this way or another. The head of state asked the Supreme Court to look into such proposals soon and decide which ones can be implemented.

Aleksandr Lukashenko underlined the importance of the private sector’s trust in the court system and the effective legislation. “We want businessmen, who invest their money here, to be absolutely sure that the Belarusian court system is truly fair,” he said.