2022 Issue №4

The principles of law are considered within the positivist legal understanding as the normatively fixed fundamental concept of each industry. The general legal principles enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation are thought to directly apply both in codified and uncodified industries, regardless of whether they are duplicated in industry legislation or not. The article highlights a number of problems related to the allocation of the principles of uncodified branches of law. Firstly, it is rather unclear whether a particular legal entity is a specific branch of law or not. This is particularly difficult in the case of uncodified branches of law. Secondly, some of the criteria for recognising legal principles that are characteristic of codified branches of law do not work when identifying the principles of uncodified branches of law. Thirdly, sectoral principles in codified branches of law are enshrined only in the Constitution of the Russian Federation and/or sectoral codes. In uncodified branches the source of enshrining the principles of law is the Constitution of the Russian Federation and branch uncodified legislation that is a set of normative legal acts. In this situation the problem arises whether any normative legal act can enshrine the principles of the corresponding branch or only in some basic act which replaces the codified act? Finally, if the author accepts the possibility of principles of law being enshrined in different normative acts, the problem arises of the hierarchy and correlation of principles from different normative acts. The article outlines the ways to solve these challenges.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the place and role of operational-­investigative activities results (hereinafter — ORD) in modern criminal procedural law. The views established in science regarding the use of materials obtained in the course of conducting operational-­search activities (hereinafter referred to as ORM), as well as existing law enforcement realities, correlate with the views established in science regarding the use in criminal procedural evidence obtained during the conduct of operational-­search activities (hereinafter referred to as ORM). The article reveals the inconsistencies between the theoretical provisions and the requirements put forward by objective reality to expand the practice of using the capabilities of the operational units of the inquiry bodies for the purposes of criminal proceedings. The author aims to establish the reasons for the skeptical attitude of process scientists to the ORD results and substantiates the provisions on the leading role of the court, the prosecutor’s office as independent guarantors of human rights and a citizen in the implementation of individual ORM. Methodologically, research relied on the dialectical method of scientific knowledge, logical, comparative legal methods, as well as observation and other particular methods of studying legal phenomena. The research used doctrinal sources, as well as domestic legislation as the sources of study material. Conceptual proposals were put forward to improve the theory of criminal justice, with the aim of its rational updating, as well as possible ways to improve the Criminal Procedure Code of Russia.

The article states that psychological knowledge is important for effectively exercising state prosecution in a jury trial. The main purpose of the research is to establish and analyze existing tactical and psychological issues of prosecutor’s participation in court proceedings in criminal cases with the participation of jurors and to develop proposals for their solution. The set of general scientific and special methods is the background of the methodology of research. The article identifies common strategies the defense can illegally influence jurors and emphasizes the importance for the state prosecutor to consider the confessional and national characteristics of the region where the case is being considered. It also looks into the necessity to develop a unified approach to delimitation of illegal and acceptable influence on jurors. The article considers the challenges of overcoming psychological influence of the attorney for the defense on the jury; the influence of certain emotions of the jury on the final verdict in the case; determines the character of certain evidence and circumstances of the criminal case upon the jury; establishes the degree of external communication influence on the jury. The conclusion is made about the necessity of developing applied solutions of supporting the prosecution in the court of jury on the basis of interdisciplinary approach.