ST.PETERSBURG, February 25 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) – Russia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that women who stand charged with murder can apply for a jury trial, RAPSI reported from the courtroom on Thursday.

The issue was considered in connection with a complaint filed by Alyona Lymar who has been convicted of killing her daughter. She has filed a motion to be tried by jury, but her petition was dismissed.

Under the law, regional courts where a penal of jurors may be selected, do not consider cases of people who can’t face life imprisonment or death penalty. According to the Russian Criminal Code, women can’t be sentenced to exceptional measure of punishment and therefore their cases can’t be reviewed by a jury trial.

Lymar asked the court to hold that these provisions of law contradict the Constitution.

The Constitutional Court ruled that women must not be deprived of a right to trial by jury because such approach discords with the principle of legal equality, discriminates and restricts women’s right to judicial protection.

The court held that the case of Lymar must be reconsidered.