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Russian Judges Learn the System
San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio, TX)
Posted on August 7, 2003
By Olivia Gonzalez Howe
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Court reporter Craig Carter (second from left) talks with Russian judges Artur Vinerovich Absalyamov (left), Karim Kadirovich Aybatulin (second from right) and Ayya Khirlig-Oolovna Chamzy-Oorzhak (right). In the center is project coordinator Aleksandra Alekseyevna Mishina.
Photo: Jerry Lara/Express-News | Five Russian federal judges are getting a feel for Texas justice and a little taste of Tex-Mex food this week while visiting San Antonio as part of a program introducing them to American democracy and culture.
While in the Lone Star state, they have observed court proceedings and met with state and federal trial judges to become familiar with the American judicial system.
The judges said the experience is a way to trade ideas and customs and to strengthen U.S. and Russian relations.
This is the fifth year the United States has hosted visitors from the Open World Program, operated by the Center for Russian Leadership Development at the U.S. Library of Congress.
"Over the last 15 years we have become increasingly close," said U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Leif Clark of San Antonio. "When people spend time in each other's homes, it's very hard to be enemies anymore."
"There are many similarities between us," Russian Federal District Arbitration Judge Eldar Gulmirza Bashirov said through an interpreter. "Now we can see with our own eyes how it works."
But the Russian judges said changes in their system since the fall of communism aren't as dramatic as some would expect.
Instead of simply scrapping the former Soviet legal system, the new democratic leadership has built the Russian judiciary in stages.
Still, crowded dockets and ever-changing legislation make their jobs tougher, they said.
They were impressed by the hard work of U.S. defense attorneys, electronic filing systems and high-tech equipment found in U.S. courtrooms, they said.
They also said they've been impressed with Texan culture and San Antonio attractions. The group has visited El Mercado and the River Walk and has indulged in a variety of Tex-Mex foods.
Not only are the Russians coming to know more about U.S. culture while they're here, but they're giving a few lessons of their own.
"Our host families now know that old Russia is not just about snow, polar bears and vodka," Russian Federal District Arbitration Court Judge Artur Vinerovich Absalyamov said. "We're now learning a little bit about each other."
Copyright 2003 San Antonio Express-News
Reprinted with permission
[Reprinted with Permission]
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