Author

Namnyaseva V.V.

Title of article

Problematic issues of criminal liability for refusal to testify

Section

Criminal Law

Issue, year

1 (31) 2015

Abstract

The problematic issues of liability for crime under Article 308 of the RF Criminal Code are examined. Its higher latency complicating the fight against it is stated. The number of citizens refusing and evading participation in criminal proceedings is increasing, moreover, the rule provided by the above-mentioned Article, is rarely implemented. The problems of this rule application are denoted: blanket nature of disposition, defects of interpretation of objective and subjective elements of crime. The expediency of amending Article 308 of the RF Criminal Code in 2013 is estimated. Due to establishing the criminal liability for evasion of examination by the victim, it’s proposed to amend Article 179 of the RF Criminal Procedure Code, indicating the possibility to conduct compulsory examination connected with lawful physical coercion regarding a suspect and the accused. Objective and subjective elements of crime are investigated. It’s proved that the analyzed crime is committed only by omission. Evading court appearance when called on by people carrying out preliminary investigation can’t be considered as a form of refusal to testify. Participants in criminal proceedings should be warned about the responsibility for refusal or evasion to perform their procedural duties. Violation of this procedure doesn’t exclude the liability under Article 308 of the RF Criminal Code. Objectives and motives of committing the analyzed crime don’t affect its qualification. The criteria for distinguishing refusal to testify from related crimes are proposed, particularly from crime under Article 307 of the RF Criminal Code. The problems concerning the qualification of the analyzed crime are considered.

Keywords

justice, participants in criminal proceedings, refusal to testify, evasion, criminal liability, witness, victim.

References

1. Bulatov V.A. Problemy obespecheniya bezopasnosti poterpevshikh i svideteley [Problems of ensuring the safety of victims and witnesses]. Konflikty i konfliktnye situatsii na predvaritel’nom sledstvii [Conflicts and conflict situations in the preliminary investigation]. Volgograd, Volgograd Law Institute of the Russian Interior Ministry, 2003. Pp. 104-106.

2. Lobanova L.V. Prestupleniya protiv pravosudiya: teoreticheskie problemy klassifikatsii i zakonodatel’noy reglamentatsii [Crimes against justice: theoretical problems of classification and legislative regulation]. Volgograd, Volgograd University Publishing, 1999. 268 p.

3. Lyubichev S.G. Eticheskie osnovy sledstvennoy taktiki [Ethical Guidelines and investigative tactics]. Moscow, Yuridicheskaya literatura Publ., 1980. 96 p.

4. Min’kovskiy G.M. Predely dokazyvaniya v sovetskom ugolovnom protsesse [Limits of proof in the Soviet criminal trial]. Moscow, Gosyurizdat Publ., 1956. 115 p.

5. Torbin Yu.G. Teoriya i praktika osvidetel’stvovaniya [Theory and practice examination]. St. Petersburg, Piter Publ., 2004. 176 p.

6. Potapova A.G. Prinuditel’noe osvidetel’stvovanie poterpevshikh [Compulsory examination of victims]. Vestnik YuUrGU. Seriya: Pravo – Herald of the South Ural State University. Series: Right, 2006, no. 3, pp. 156-157.

7. Petrukhin I.L. Svoboda lichnosti i ugolovno-protsessual’noe prinuzhdenie. Obshchaya kontseptsiya. Neprikosnovennost’ lichnosti [Individual freedom and criminal procedural coercion. The overall concept. Inviolability of the person]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1985. 239 p.

8. Brilliantov A.V., Kosevich N.R. Nastol’naya kniga sud’i: prestupleniya protiv pravosudiya [Handbook of judges: crimes against justice]. Moscow, Velbi: Prospekt Publ., 2008. 560 p.

9. Kozhevnikov K., Kuleshov Yu. Otvetstvennost’ za uklonenie ili otkaz ot dachi pokazaniy [Responsibility for failure or refusal to testify]. Zakonnost’– Legality, 2006, no. 3, pp. 32-35.

10. Gorelik A.S., Lobanova L.V. Prestupleniya protiv pravosudiya [Crimes against justice]. St. Petersburg, Yurid. tsentr Press Publ., 2005. 491 p.

11. Ugolovnaya otvetstvennost’ za prestupleniya protiv pravosudiya [Criminal liability for crimes against justice]. Moscow, Russian Academy of Justice, 2003. 416 p.

12. Blinnikov V.A., Ustinov V.S. Lzhesvidetel’stvo: ugolovno-pravovye, kriminologicheskie, ugolovno-protsessual’nye i kriminalisticheskie aspekty [Perjury: criminal law, criminology, criminal procedure and forensic aspects]. Stavropol, Kavkazskiy kray Publ., 1999. 148 p.

13. Kuz’mina S.S. Lzhesvidetel’stvo (Ugolovno-pravovye, protsessual’nye i kriminalisticheskie aspekty). Kand. Diss. [Perjury (penal, procedural and forensic aspects). Cand. Diss.]. St. Petersburg, 1991. 233 p.

14. Kosyakova N.S. Lzhesvidetel’stvo [Perjury]. Gosudarstvo i pravo – State and law, 2001, no. 4, pp. 66-74.

15. Kuleshov Yu.I. Prestupleniya protiv pravosudiya: ponyatie, sistema, yuridicheskiy analiz i problemy kvalifikatsii [Crimes against justice: the concept, system, legal analysis and qualification problems]. Khabarovsk, 2001. 152 p.