The discussion focused on the further development of the judicial system in Russia in connection with the appearance of new constituent entities – the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, and on issues of merging the Supreme Court and the Higher Arbitration Court.

Vladimir Putin signed a law on introducing an amendment to the Constitution On the Russian Federation Supreme Court and Prosecutor General’s Office.

The Government prepared a report on the results of monitoring enforcement of laws in the Russian Federation in 2012, in compliance with the Presidential Executive Order of May 20, 2011 On Monitoring Enforcement of Laws in Practice in Russia. In 2012, measures were taken to systemise monitoring of in law enforcement area.

Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Amendments to Articles 32 and 152 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation.

The Federal Judges Preliminary Selection Commission under the President met on April 18 to examine candidacies for federal court judges.

Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma the draft Administrative Court Proceedings Code and related draft federal laws: On Entry into Force of the Administrative Court Proceedings Code of the Russian Federation; On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in connection with the Entry into Force of the Administrative Court Proceedings Code of the Russian Federation; and the draft federal constitutional law On Amendments to Certain Federal Constitutional Laws in connection with the Entry into Force of the Administrative Court Proceedings Code of the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin took part in the event marking the 90^th anniversary of the Russian Federation Supreme Court founding.

Vladimir Putin took part in the VIII All-Russian Congress of Judges.

On Constitution Day, Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Constitutional Court judges.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting on organising premises for the Supreme Court, Higher Arbitration Court, and the Supreme Court’s Judicial Department.

Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Amendments to the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation to Improve Simplified Proceedings.

Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Ratification of the Protocol on Amendments to the Statute of the Eurasian Economic Community Court of July 5, 2010.

Vladimir Putin announced that he had signed a set of documents aimed at improving the judicial system and increasing the social status of judges, as well as amending the law On Assemblies, Rallies, Demonstrations, Processions and Picketing.

Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma draft Federal Constitutional Law On Amendments to Articles 13 and 14 of the Federal Constitutional Law On the Judicial System of the Russian Federation and Articles 21 and 22 of the Federal Constitutional Law On Courts of General Jurisdiction of the Russian Federation as well as draft Federal Law On Amendments to Articles 61 and 11 of the Law of the Russian Federation On the Status of Judges in the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On Main Directions of Developing the System of Public Administration.

Dmitry Medvedev sent greetings to participants in the meeting to discuss the 2011 work results for courts of general jurisdiction.

Mr Lebedev briefed Dmitry Medvedev on the Supreme Court’s performance results for 2011. Improvements to the criminal procedure legislation were also discussed at the meeting. 

Dmitry Medvedev informed Valery Zorkin that he is submitting his name to the Council of Federation as candidate for the post of President of the Constitutional Court.

Improvement in mechanisms of selecting judges and holding them to disciplinary liability were the main issues discussed at the meeting.