Article 144. Participation in a Court Session via Video Conferencing

Persons participating in the case and persons assisting in the administration of justice shall have the right to participate in the court session via videoconferencing.

The right of persons to participate in the court session via videoconferencing shall be indicated in the determination on the preparation of the case for the trial, which shall be sent to the persons participating in the case, persons assisting in the administration of justice, and the relevant court, with the assistance of which they can participate in such a session.

To ensure the participation of the persons participating in the case in a court session via videoconferencing, the videoconferencing systems of the relevant courts at the place of residence, location, or whereabouts of the said persons, or the mobile videoconferencing system of the court considering the case, shall be utilized.

The court, assisting in the conduct of the court session in the mode of videoconferencing, shall ensure the sending of powers of attorney certifying the powers of representatives of the persons participating in the case and persons assisting in the administration of justice, as well as the evidence presented at the session, to the court considering the case.

The fact that witnesses, experts, specialists, and interpreters participating in a videoconference court session using a videoconferencing system have been explained their rights, duties, and liability shall be recorded via audio and video recording, and this shall be indicated in the minutes of the court session.

The right of persons participating in the case and of persons assisting in the administration of justice to take part in a court hearing via videoconference may be exercised during court sessions of the first instance, appellate, cassation, and supervisory instance courts.