Social and Legal Studios
ISSN 2617-4162
e-ISSN 2617-4170
Publisher: Lviv State University of Internal Affairs
Abstract
International standards of procedural law are increasingly influencing national legislation. This creates the need to adapt national procedures to international standards, particularly in the sphere of private prosecution. The purpose of this study was to identify ways to improve the institution of private prosecution in the courts of first instance of Kazakhstan to ensure its compliance with international standards and principles of inclusive justice. The study was based on a comprehensive application of systemic and structural, comparative legal, and formal legal methods, which enabled a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework of Kazakhstan and international standards in the field of private prosecution. The study revealed major discrepancies between Kazakh legislation and international standards, including the absence of mandatory participation of a lawyer and a prosecutor in private prosecution cases, which leads to a violation of the principle of equality of arms and restrictions on access to justice. A comparative analysis of the experience of European countries, specifically Germany, France, Latvia, and the Netherlands, revealed the key elements of successful models of inclusive justice: the Nebenkläger institution of procedural complicity in Germany, which provides victims with broad procedural rights; the French system of specialised victim support centres; the Latvian model of mandatory prosecutorial participation; and the Dutch practice of restorative justice and mediation. Based on the study conducted, a set of measures to improve Kazakh legislation was proposed, including the introduction of a state programme of free legal aid, the creation of a network of victim support centres, the development of e-justice and the introduction of mandatory prosecutorial involvement in private prosecution cases. The findings of this study can be used to reform the system of private prosecution in Kazakhstan and other post-Soviet countries with a view to ensuring fair and inclusive justice in line with international standards
Keywords: mediation; free legal aid; guarantees of legal practice; legal protection; social vulnerability; electronic document management
Suggested citation
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