Is President Medvedev Really Cleansing the Russian Legal and Judicial Systems of ‘Legal Nihilism’?

Abstract

It is notorious that “telephone justice” was the norm in the Soviet Union. Judges, except at the highest levels, had low prestige. While most public prosecutors were men, most judges – like doctors and teachers – were women. All judges without exception were Communist Party members, and required to report back regularly on their activities to the local Party bodies. In any event, the role of the courts was seen to be primarily educational, instructing citizens in the importance of public order and respect for socialist property. Non-controversial cases, for example crime without political connotation, or cases concerning inheritance or custody of children, would be dealt with impartially and according to normal procedures. Indeed, there was strict adherence to procedural formality. But if the interest of the State or Party were concerned, then the judge would either know what needed to be done without being told, or, if necessary, would receive a telephone call so as to know what was expected.