In a rare display of public discontent, Russian lawyers on Tuesday came out against a court reform proposed by President Vladimir Putin to abolish what they called the most progressive branch of Russia's judiciary.
Putin had proposed in July merger of the Supreme Arbitration Court that oversees business disputes with the Supreme Court, which handles criminal cases and civil lawsuits. Kremlin had claimed earlier this year that the reform would solve the problem of conflicting jurisdictions between the courts.
A bill on the reform involving constitutional amendment is listed to come up for a crucial second reading in the Russian Parliament on Wednesday, with most parties supporting it, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.
Despite majority support for the legislation, more than 80 Russian law firms on Tuesday released an open letter opposing the reform, which they said would de-facto dismantle the country's arbitration system.
Russia's arbitration courts are much more transparent, independent and modernized than the "parochial" general jurisdiction courts, said the letter posted online.
The lawyers fear that the reform would hamper business competition in the country and prompt Russian entrepreneurs to take their disputes to foreign courts. They urged the government to drop the reform bill or at least put it on hold until a broad discussion with Russia's judicial community, which has not been consulted about the draft legislation.
Lawmakers are yet to comment on the lawyers' request, but the State Duma's Constitution and State Affairs Committee recommended for the passage of the bill without any change. A Kremlin spokesman refused to comment on the developments.
Russia's judiciary, much criticized for alleged dependence on the executive branch, is trusted by a mere 21 percent of its population, according to a nationwide survey last month by the independent Levada Center pollster, the report said.
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