THE POLITICS OF JURY TRIALS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

This study investigates the paradoxical politics of jury trials in Kazakhstan. In doing so, it tries to find out the influence of jury institution on the pro-accusation bias within criminal justice system as well as reasons for institutional resistance against the expansion of jury trials and the ways this resistance takes form. More broadly, this research is directed towards understanding the state-society relations in non-democratic regimes, dynamics of criminal justice reforms, conflict and cooperation within criminal justice system, interaction between law-enforcement officials and laypersons, legal consciousness of jurors. Generally, this study finds out that jury trials do reduce the accusation bias; however this impact is almost invisible due to limited jurisdiction of jury institution.