Russia Wants to Reduce the Number of Jurors and Change Court Rules

Russia plans to reform the jury system, specifically by reducing the number of jurors from 6–8 to four. It is also proposed to include the presiding judge in the jury and to eliminate the age limit for jurors, which is currently 65 years.

Russian authorities explain the proposed changes as necessary to “increase citizens’ motivation” and reduce the number of cases in which acquittal verdicts are overturned.

At the same time, statistics show a difference between the decisions of juries and those of professional judges. Prior to the reform, juries acquitted defendants in 15–30% of cases, whereas professional judges hand down acquittals in approximately 0.2% of cases.

In effect, the Kremlin is changing the rules in cases where a jury trial could still give a defendant a chance at acquittal—the Russian authorities want to control not only the court’s decision but also the very mechanism by which it is reached.

This aligns well with another trend—the Russian authorities’ push for criminal punishment of minors. According to a pro-Kremlin public opinion research center, 40% of respondents believe that criminal liability should begin at age 14. Another 20% cited 12 years or younger as the threshold. The average age cited in the responses was 14.3 years. Only one in nine supported raising the age of criminal responsibility to 18.

In June, Alexander Bastrykin, chairman of the Russian Federation’s Investigative Committee, had already proposed imprisoning adolescents as young as 12 and holding their parents accountable.

This is how a system is taking shape in which authorities seek to impose punishment earlier and eliminate opportunities for exoneration. At the same time, the Kremlin is changing the rules of jury trials and supporting harsher punishments for minors. Both measures serve to strengthen the repressive apparatus and suppress the fundamental freedoms of Russian citizens.

This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.

Russia plans to increase defense spending by 27% in 2027 — Daily Maverick.

A commission will assess the possibility of restoring the building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine following the Russian strike.

Earlier in Kyiv, firefighters extinguished a fire at the National Academy of Sciences building.

Later, Mariana Bezuhla made a controversial statement regarding the strike on the Academy of Sciences.

Zelenskyy announced the number of casualties from the strike on the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences.