UDK: 343.34

Valery An. Novikov - Candidate of Law, associate professor, Russian University of Transport (MIIT), Moscow, Russia

Abstract. The current paper has examined the crucial issues of criminal liability for occupying a high-ranking position in a criminal hierarchy. Article 210.1 was introduced into the Russian Criminal Code five years ago, but the scholars have been debating what constitutes grounds for criminal liability for this crime. Based on an analysis of doctrinal views and case law, there has been concluded that the basis for criminal liability lies in the socially dangerous actions of a person occupying a high position in the criminal hierarchy, who controls the criminal environment. There have been given practical recommendations for classifying the crime and distinguishing it from the related offense under Part 4 of Article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The author of this article has supported the view that the crime under Article 210.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is continuous, and substantiated this conclusion based on theoretical principles of criminal law. There have been outlined the circumstances under which a person occupying a high position in a criminal hierarchy cannot be held liable under Article 210.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. There has been also substantiated that the perpetrator of this crime can only be a special perpetrator. Based on selected court rulings, there has been demonstrated that the application of Article 210.1 of the Russian Criminal Code has been tested not only on “thieves in law” but also on “position holders”. In future, the scope of criminal offenders may be expanded to include so-called “watchers” of various facilities and territories, i.e., criminal leaders with a lower but significant status in the criminal hierarchy.

Keywords: public safety; basis for criminal liability; organized crime; criminal hierarchy; the highest position in the criminal hierarchy; “thief in law”; “position holder”; “watcher”.

References:

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Novikov V.A. Occupying a high-ranking position in a criminal hierarchy as a crime against public safety// Transport law and security. 2025; (4(56)):71―80.