The Right to Receive Legal Assistance in Criminal Proceedings in Russia and in Foreign Countries

The paper analyses the legislation of the Russian Federation and some foreign countries on the right of citizens to provide them with legal assistance in criminal cases, as well as the problems arising in its implementation. The paper also summarizes the experience of the studied countries in order to improve their legislation in this area of criminal justice. Methodologically, the work uses scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as historical and comparative methods; all are given in an integrated approach. Among the conclusions, we underline the fact that some countries are introducing norms and tendencies from International law into their legal systems; the basic International principles of lawyer's activities, including principles for defenders, are fixed in the basic principles on the role of lawyers, which describe the right to receive free legal aid for those who are the poor; also that citizens have the right to choose a representative of their interests in the judiciary and have the opportunity to contact with their defenders at any time