Ensuring the rights and freedoms of participants in criminal proceedings brought to criminal responsibility

The article is devoted to the analysis of the norms of the Romano-Germanic and Anglo-Saxon legal systems following the current criminal legislation of Europe, England, and America. The author examines the main elements of evidence used to establish a person's guilt in committing a criminal offense. The author analyzes the provisions of the Anglo-Saxon and classical Romano-Germanic legal systems regarding the determination of the procedural status of participants in criminal proceedings. It is proved that the right to defense is an important guarantee of fairness in criminal proceedings. Theoretical aspects and practical mechanisms of realization of these guarantees are studied. The author suggests ways to improve legislation and address theoretical and practical challenges in the field of criminal justice.