Features of the Principle of Competition in Special Procedures of Criminal Proceedings

Abstract

The study aims to assess how special criminal procedures in Russia implement the adversarial principle. The authors used formal legal and systemic analysis, comparison of procedural forms, and a thematic literature review. The findings distinguish procedural economy in cases involving agreement with the charge from the additional investigative purpose of cooperation agreements. They identify risks arising from restricted evidence examination and pressure on defendants. The authors conclude that procedural simplification requires effective legal assistance, evidentiary sufficiency, and independent judicial scrutiny. Strengthening these safeguards is essential for reconciling procedural efficiency with fair adjudication and the protection of defendants’ and victims’ rights