Peak hour 08/02/1995 (1995)

Guest of the program: Ernest Ametistov, judge of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation.

The main topics and issues discussed in the studio:

1. Just finished the session of the Constitutional Court ...

Has the outcome of the negotiations influenced the decision of the court and will the decision of the court influence the outcome of the negotiations?

2. Was it advisable — on the part of the State Duma deputies and the Council of the Federation — to send a similar request at the height of the Chechen crisis and the start of negotiations ...

3. Was there any pressure (from the government, etc.) on the Constitutional Court during the process?

How often does the Constitutional Court generally have to face anyone's pressure and attacks?

4. Can the decision of the court influence the course of the Chechen events, as well as anyone's political career?

5. Which of the parties involved in the process looked, in your opinion, more convincing?

6. It is often necessary to hear the opinion that we (our citizens) live in the era of “legal mayhem” - or “criminal revolution”.

How do you assess the legal situation in the country? 7. Recently, the former chairman of the Constitutional Court, Valery Zorkin, spoke rather sharply in the press about the admission of six new judges to the court.

What is your opinion?

8. How highly do you rate the professional qualities of your colleagues?

9. The activities of the Constitutional Court are rather ambiguously evaluated in various sectors of society.

So the chairman of the State Duma’s security committee put it in the sense that "the Constitutional Court is more a team of politicians than a real court."

Do you think he's wrong?

10. You have been working in the Constitutional Court since the first day of its foundation.

Two years ago, the court independently intervened, not without the initiative of its chairman, in the affairs of state policy.

Has anything changed since then?

11. How do you understand the role of the Constitutional Court in a state of law?

12.So, (since March) 19 people are working in court.

Each of them is a person with his own predilections, each of them certainly sympathizes with one or another political movement.

Is it possible to count on the impartiality of the Constitutional Court?

13. Are the decisions of the Constitutional Court in Russia considered?

14. Is there any mechanism for implementing court decisions?

15. The “Chechen Process” is a global and sensational business.

And what cases are most often dealt with in the Constitutional Court? 16. Can an ordinary citizen, for example, Ivan Ivanovich, protect his interests in the Constitutional Court?

Have you ever dealt with private complaints?

17. If you are considering private complaints, do you not take away the bread from ordinary courts?

18. Can court decisions seriously influence the policy of regional authorities?

19. For a long time you have been working with the well-known human rights activist Sergey Kovalev, about whom there are rather mixed opinions now.

What do you think?

TELEPHONE CALLS 1. If it were your will, would you change anything in the Constitution?

2. You acknowledge that you value independence most of all.

Is it really easy to remain an independent member of the Constitutional Court?

3. Have you had to resolve issues related to housing law?