Annotation

The article is devoted to a comparative study of the constitutional provisions of Eastern European states with the aim of identifying patterns and specific features in the enshrinement of the principles governing the exercise of judicial power within the sections on human rights and freedoms. The study substantiates the conclusion that the constitutions of Eastern European countries demonstrate a common normative approach whereby individual subjective rights are correlated with guarantees of their judicial protection through the incorporation of fundamental principles of judicial authority. Among the most consistently observed provisions are the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, equality before the law and procedural equality of the parties to proceedings, the presumption of innocence, the openness of court hearings, and the public pronouncement of judgments. In addition, less widespread principles present in certain constitutional acts have also been identified.