The courts of law will be able to hold judges accountable by themselves, without the consent of the Supreme Council of Magistrates, but they will have to inform the Council about this. The Government approved a relevant amendment to Article 19 of the Law on the Status of Judge on September 9, IPN reports.

Minister of Justice Vladimir Cebotari said that criminal proceedings against a judge can be now instituted by order of the prosecutor general and with the consent of the Supreme Council of Magistrates. Any other prosecution measure, such as tapping of the phone or arrest of the judge, must be authorized by the Council.

“This amendment reduces the immunity of judges. Only the order of the prosecutor general will be needed for taking legal action,” he stated. The minister specified that the change will enable to implement the decisions of the Constitutional Court and will diminish the excessive procedural guarantees offered to judges when these are brought to justice.

“This is a drastic measure that makes the judges more vulnerable. It deprives those who committed illegalities outside the justice process of the possibility of avoiding punishment. It is also a precondition for ensuring a ‘cleanup’ in the judicial system,“ said Vladimir Cebotari