I. INTRODUCTION 1.1. National and International Commitments and Obligations on the Right to a Fair Trial The principle of a fair trial is fundamental to any democratic society. From a human rights perspective, the right to a fair trial can be viewed as the right of all charged with committing a crime to have certain procedures respected in the process of the state holding them accountable. The right to a fair trial is instrumental in the protection of other rights, including civil and human rights, in that it serves as a safeguard that guarantees judicial redress through the courts to those whose rights have been violated. From a broader societal perspective the right to a fair trial is a means to ensure that criminals are duly brought to justice and that no innocent person is erroneously convicted of a crime. On a more abstract and theoretical level, the concept of a fair trial, as a core element in the rule of law, is linked to the fundamental principle of separation of powers, because it requires the judiciary independently to exercise its powers free from encroachment by the executive and legislative branches of government. The right to a fair trial is thus a core element in the concept of the rule of law and in the protection of human rights in general. Under United Nations and Council of Europe standards and under political commitments created under the OSCE and the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, everyone is entitled to a fair trial in both civil and criminal proceedings. Article 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention), which guarantees the right to a fair trial, has been interpreted extensively by the European Court of Human Rights (European Court) and has been one of the Convention’s most dynamically evolving provisions. In Moldovan law, provisions guaranteeing a person’s right to a fair trial can be found in the Constitution, the Criminal Procedure Code, and other organic laws. Where contradiction exists between national criminal procedure law and international human rights treaties to which Moldova is a party, international law prevails. The European Convention, in particular, ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Art. 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), G.A. Res. 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966, entered into force on 23 March 1976, and to which Moldova is a party since 26 April 1993.  �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Art. 6 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention), entered into force on 3 September 1953, to which Moldova is a party since 12 September 1997.  �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Para. 13.9 of the Concluding Document of Vienna Meeting (1989). For a detailed list of OSCE commitments relating to the right to a fair trial see http://www.osce.org/documents/odihr/2005/01/4109_en.pdf.  ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Art.s 20, 21, 26, 117, 118 and 119 Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, adopted on 29 July 2004.  ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Title I, Chapter II and the Special Part of the Criminal Procedure Code, adopted by Law No. 122-XV of 14 March 2003, entered into force on 12 June 2003, with subsequent amendments. ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� The Law on judicial organization, Law No. 514-XIII of 6 July 1995, entered into force on 19 October 1995, with subsequent amendments; the Law on the status of judges, No. 544-XIII of 20 July 1995, entered into force on 16 October 1995, with subsequent amendments.  ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� See Art. 4 para. 1 and 2 of the Constitution; see also Art. 8 of the Constitution on Observance of International 11