Abstract: The subject of the research is an accused individual as a participant of a criminal trial from the side of the defense, and procedural status thereof. In his research Abazaliev analyzes the relationship between the criminal prosecution, suspicion and accusation. The author of the article notes that criminal prosecution does not have a form of its own even though implies such activity as suspicion and accusation. In addition, the author also reveals the essence and definition of accusation and describes the key features of the accused, the term that has not had a due legal recognition, and offers his own definition of the term. In his research Abazaliev has used general research methods (analysis and synthesis) and special research methods (comparative law, systems approach, etc.). The main result of the research is the author's definition of the accused as a participant of the criminal trial from the side of the defendant whose guilt has been proved by certain evidence and particular procedural judgements have been made, or who was put on trial as the accused, or against whom a bill of indictment has been drawn or accusing decision has been made.