AMNESTY AT THE PRE-TRIAL AND JUDICIAL STAGES OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS: PROBLEMS AND CONSEQUENCES (USING EXAMPLES OF CRIMINAL CASES UNDER ARTICLE 239 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION)

Aim. To consider the issue of applying amnesty at the pre-trial and judicial stages on the example of high-profile cases of creators and leaders of destructive cults who committed crimes under Article 239 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and were released from criminal liability and punishment on the basis of the amnesty act.

Methodology. The methodological basis of the research is the dialectical method of cognition of social phenomena. Methods of analysis and synthesis, the method of induction and deduction, system, complex, comparative legal methods are used in the work.

Results. The application of amnesty at the pre-trial and judicial stages leads to the fact that the subject of a crime, released from criminal responsibility and escaped punishment, may feel unpunished. This is clearly demonstrated by the examples given in the article of criminal cases against leaders of sects who were released from criminal liability and punishment by virtue of an amnesty act, and now continue their activities. If the category of this crime is changed upward, the application of acts of amnesty to the leaders of organizations that infringe on the personality and rights of citizens will be much less likely, and this will protect the life and health of a wide range of people.

Research implications. Understanding the problematic issues of the application of amnesty acts is important in the framework of the State criminal policy. The results of the study contribute to the science and practice of criminal law, in particular, reveal new facets of understanding the features of “sectarian” crimes, which are always very difficult for the law enforcement officer. The study also helps to understand the problems that the application of amnesty entails at the pre-trial and trial stages.

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