2026 Issue №2

This article examines international approaches to the legal regulation of prison labour in light of the purposes of punishment, offender reintegration and human rights protection. The study aims to identify core regulatory models and assess their relevance to improving Russian penal policy. The methodology framework combines comparative legal analysis, formal doctrinal methods and elements of historical and systemic inquiry. A typology of foreign re­gulatory approaches is proposed and validated, duty-to-work frameworks, duty-to-participate regimes embedded in individual sentence plans and market-oriented arrangements involving cooperation with private actors. The legal clarity of the status of the working prisoner, occupational safety guarantees, fair remuneration, safeguards against exploitation and effective judicial oversight are highlighted as the key criteria for effective regulation. Recommendations are formulated for the further development of the domestic regulatory framework in light of international standards and comparative experience.

This article addresses the pressing issue of the lack of uniform definitions for key concepts in military robotics, which undermines the efficacy of traditional legal norms amidst rapid technological advancement. The aim of the study is to bridge this terminological lacuna by developing and substantiating doctrinal definitions for the core categories of ‘military robot’ and ‘military robotics’ in order to enhance the system of criminal law regulation. The methodological framework for this research comprises comparative legal analysis, which facilitates the comparison of national approaches and practices in the legal regulation of robotics, and the structural-functional method, which is employed to identify and systematise the essential characteristics of the phenomena under study. The analysis demonstrates the need for a clear conceptual distinction between these terms and proposes definitions for ‘military robot’ and ‘military robotics’. The principal conclusion of the study is that these definitions establish a conceptual foundation for the systematic modernisation of criminal liability institutions, including the criminalisation of new forms of unlawful conduct and the clarification of the subject of a crime and forms of guilt. Such an update of criminal law mechanisms is deemed an essential prerequisite for maintaining legal security and effectively countering the challenges posed by the technological transformation of warfare.

The second part of the article examines the tactical aspects of individual investigative actions and offers recommendations for tactical and forensic support for investigations of internet-facilitated crimes involving the illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The contribution analyses the tactical aspects of verbal investigative actions, such as witness interviews, questioning of a suspect or accused person, on-site testimony verification and identification procedures, while offering recommendations for their optimisation. The findings of the study comprise a set of theoretical propositions and practical recommendations, which are expected to enhance the effectiveness of tactical and forensic support for this category of crimes in the framework of specific forensic methodology, as well as to serve as a basis for further research on similar issues within forensic science and related fields.

This study identifies limitations in both medical and criminal legislation, reflecting inconsistencies in law-making and law enforcement in this area. To this end, a comparative legal analysis is undertaken of Russian and international legislation governing induced abortion, clinical guidelines and recommendations issued by the World Health Organisation are exa­mined, and statistical data on therapeutic abortions and their consequences are analysed. It is argued that criminal-law regulation of induced abortion requires improvement in order to ensure the safety of medical abortion for women’s life and health and to maintain a balance between the interests of the woman and those of the developing foetus. A new version of Article 123 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is proposed, with possible measures to prevent illegal induced abortions outlined.