MOSCOW, November 27 - RAPSI, Saria Kiut. The Justice Ministry has drafted a bill that would simplify criminal proceedings if a defendant, a suspect, or an individual subject to administrative liability dies, the official website of the Trunov, Aivar and Partners law firm reported on Tuesday.

According to the website, Sergei Shukov, Head of the Constitutional Legislation Department, wrote in a letter to Igor Trunov that the bill is being considered by the Russian government and will be submitted to the State Duma pending a Russian government review.

Earlier attorney Igor Trunov reported on his website that he had filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that would require the authorities to draft a bill to regulate the procedure in active legal cases in the event that a defendant dies.

Trunov said he filed a complaint with the government in October that was related to an upcoming trial in a high-profile car accident case.

A car accident involving a LUKOIL vice president occurred in Moscow on February 25, 2010. Renowned doctors Vera Sidelnikova and Olga Alexandrina died in the crash.

LUKOIL Vice President Anatoly Barkov got light injuries. The accident sparked a public outcry as many believed the LUKOIL executive was responsible. In 2010, investigators concluded that Alexandrina was liable for the accident.

But Alexandrina's family disputed the ruling, and the investigation was reopened in July 2011 following the consideration of their application by the Constitutional Court.