During the international seminar Advances and Setbacks of Democracy in the European Space, Aleksa Škundrić from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law discussed the relationship between the determination of truth and the principle of a fair trial in criminal proceedings. His presentation focused on how criminal justice systems aim to establish factual truth while simultaneously respecting procedural guarantees and fundamental rights.
He explained that the pursuit of material truth remains a central objective of criminal proceedings, but it must be conducted within a framework that safeguards equality of arms, the presumption of innocence, and the right to defense. Škundrić noted that procedural rules are designed not only to regulate the process but also to prevent abuses and ensure fairness.
The presentation also examined tensions between procedural efficiency and the protection of defendants’ rights. He highlighted that increasing pressure to accelerate proceedings, reduce caseloads, and improve institutional performance may lead to shortcuts that weaken procedural safeguards and risk undermining the fairness of trials.
Škundrić emphasized that maintaining a proper balance between effective proceedings and fundamental rights is essential to ensuring legitimacy, due process, and public trust in criminal justice systems. He concluded that judicial systems must carefully reconcile efficiency with fairness in order to uphold democratic standards and the rule of law.
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