The Chairman explains the essence of the charges to the defendant, the legal qualification of the criminal act, the grounds and the amount of the brought civil suit. In case of several defendants, a similar clarification is done to each of them.

The Chairman asks each defendant whether they plead guilty and specifically for what. The defendant must be told that he is not restricted with statements accepting or not accepting one’s guilt made during preliminary investigation, is not obliged to answer to the question and the refusal to answer cannot be qualified to his detriment.

The Chairman asks the defendant whether he, partially or in full, accepts the civil suit brought against him. If the defendant answers to this question, he is entitled to justify it.

The parties are entitled to ask such questions to the defendant that are aimed at the clarification of the defendant’s position.

Source: Iravaban.net