On Monday, April 22nd, the first statements of the parties in the criminal case against former U.S. President Donald Trump were heard in court. The outcome of the trial will determine not only the future of the accused, but also the fate of the United States since Trump is a presidential candidate. Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying internal Trump Organization business records. The prosecution has made it clear that this is not just a "paper case." Trump is effectively accused of "a planned, coordinated, long-term conspiracy to influence the 2016 election." Donald Trump Donald Trump himself said in court that he considers the process to be an ordinary "accounting matter" of no particular importance. In his opinion, it is the usual tricks of the Democrats trying to prevent him from returning to the White House. Yaroslav Bogdanov, international lawyer, founder of the Institute of Contemporary International Law, founder of GDA Group, in his comments on the trial of Donald Trump, noted an alarming detail. “With this example, we clearly see how the judicial system clashes with big politics. And it is not only the United States. Let us remember, exactly three years ago, the court verdict which put an end to the political career of Nicolas Sarkozy, making it impossible for him to return to the post of President of France”, said Yaroslav Bogdanov. Nicolas Sarkozy Dozens of criminal cases against Donald Trump have been actively pursued to coincide with the run-up to the presidential election. According to Reuters, the current trial, even with a guilty verdict, will not bar Trump from running for the office. But it will significantly affect his ratings and political authority. The news agency notes, that many lawyers hold that the case in question is the least consequential of those still to come. In fact, the "heavy artillery" will be launched closer to the date of the US presidential election. “Whatever the outcome of the proceedings against Donald Trump, this is a very disturbing trend for the entire global community. Justice cannot become a tool in political squabbles. This goes against the fundamental principles of the 2012 UN Declaration on the Rule of Law as the base for international relations. If today we observe such precedents in individual states, tomorrow similar phenomena may become a new norm in the international arena”, said Yaroslav Bogdanov. Yaroslav Bogdanov