Constitutional Council's recommendations should be binding upon Government: Navi Pillay

The meeting focused on enhancement of the role of the court system and the Constitutional Council.

"First of all, I would like to touch upon the question of the judicial reform. I highly recommend introducing new amendments that will ensure fair balance between the branches of the governmental power in the country. The judicial authorities should be more independent and play greater role," Ms Pillay said.

In addition, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is concerned with enhancement of the importance of the Constitutional Council.

"I see that the Constitutional Council is an important consultative body that provides expert advice on many relevant issues. I believe that the role of the council should be increased and its recommendations should be binding upon the Government," she added.

Igor Rogov, in his turn, informed Ms Navi Pillay of recent reforms in the judicial system initiated by President Nazarbayev.

"It is too early to say we have achieved the top in the process of the judicial system improvement. The Head of State has numerously paid attention to that fact. Currently we are working hard to improve the criminal law of Kazakhstan. If we are successful in that, then, I am quite sure, Kazakhstan will be one of the first former Soviet republics to make a departure from the traditional criminal law that was created in the Soviet period," Head of the Constitutional Council stressed.