Vyacheslav Lebedev, who served in office since the Soviet era
Putin abolishes upper age limit… 35 years in office since 1989
Russia’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Vyacheslav Lebedev died on the 23rd (local time), the state-run TASS news agency reported on the 24th. He died at the age of 80.
According to reports, he is a major figure who has received national awards several times during his tenure, including the Medal for Contribution to the Fatherland and the Order of Alexander Nevsky.
In particular, he served as the longest serving Chief Justice in Russian history until his death in 2012 when President Putin signed a bill abolishing the upper age limit for judges.
Born in Moscow on August 14, 1943, he graduated from the Law Faculty of Moscow State University in 1968. In 1970 he was appointed judge of the Moscow-St. Petersburg (Leningrad) District Court.
After serving as Chief Justice of the People’s Court of the Moscow Zhelednodorozhny Region in 1977, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Court in 1984, and Chief Justice of the Moscow City Court in 1986, he was inaugurated as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Soviet Union in July 1989, and became Chief Justice of Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Lebedev died on the 23rd at a hospital in Moscow after making his last appearance at a meeting with President Putin on the 6th. It is known that he was suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer.
“Lebedev made valuable contributions to strengthening and developing the country’s judicial system, establishing the constitutional and legislative basis for an independent judiciary, and forming the institutions of the judicial community,” the Supreme Court said in a statement.
RAPSI, a legal news outlet, evaluated that he created a legal system for citizens, such as decriminalizing misdemeanors and replacing prison sentences with fines. The newspaper said Lebedev “strived to achieve legal, fair and humane justice, and his contributions to the judicial system will forever remain a cornerstone for future legal professionals.”
The Moscow Times, an anti-government media outlet, criticized him for creating a vertical legal system, including reducing jury rights outside of criminal trials. It was also reported that he owned a luxury villa and an apartment that he could only afford by saving up 20 years’ worth of salary, and that he enjoyed special privileges such as special government provision of airplanes.
Source: Donga
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