Features of the mechanism of criminal behavior when committing illegal logging of forest stands

Background. Responsibility for illegal logging of forest plantations is provided for by Article 260 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. These socially dangerous acts occupy a significant place in the structure of environmental crime and undermine the foundations of nature management in the Russian Federation. In this regard, the study of the mechanism of criminal behavior when committing illegal logging of forest plantations is relevant in both theoretical and applied aspects. The purpose of the work is to ana-lyze the stages of the emergence and development of criminal activity of persons commit-ting the crimes in question. Materials and methods. The article used scientific works on the issues under study, materials of judicial practice and official statistics data. The methodo-logical basis was the general dialectical method of cognition. In addition, the following methods were implemented: system-structural, analysis and synthesis, deduction and induction, statistical analysis, generalization of judicial practice and expert assessments. Results. The study found that the mechanism of criminal behavior in the commission of illegal logging of forest stands has its own characteristics at all its stages: motivation, decision-making and planning, commission of the crime and post-criminal behavior. Conclusion. It is concluded that law enforcement agencies need to take into account the circumstances of preparation for the illegal logging of forest stands and the specifics of the implementation of criminal intent in order to develop effective measures to counter these socially dangerous acts.