MOSCOW, November 15 (RAPSI) – The Presidential Council for Human Rights has welcomed a legislative proposal to prohibit placing of suspects and defendants in safety cages in courtrooms during hearings, a statement published on the Russian advisory body’s website reads.

According to the human rights advocates, the so-called cages and aquariums in courtrooms impede communication between suspects or defendants and their defense, violate the principle of presumption of innocence, and assault human dignity.

On Wednesday, a group of Russian Federation Council members submitted a bill banning placement of suspected and accused persons in metallic cages, glass cabins and other precluding constructions during court hearings to the State Duma.

The draft law’s sponsors claim that such measures as placement of people in cages in court violate Article 3 (Prohibition of torture) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The initiative is aimed at the humanization of attitude toward persons under prosecution and on trial.

Amendments are proposed to the Criminal Procedure Code.