Problems of defamation qualification in Russian criminal law

libel as a crime in the criminal law of the Russian Federation is a complex legal category that causes numerous disputes and questions related to its qualification. One of the main problems that arise in the process of qualifying this crime is proving the defamatory nature of the information disseminated, as well as their inconsistency with reality. Also, in legal practice, difficulties often arise in distinguishing offense from libel, which makes it difficult to qualify the relevant acts. The consolidation of criminal liability for defamation in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is a measure of state protection of the honor and dignity of citizens. This is due to the desire of the State to ensure respect for human rights and freedoms, as well as the maintenance of the moral foundations of society. This is especially important in the context of modern information technologies, when the dissemination of information occurs instantly and can reach an unlimited wide audience. The Criminal law distinguishes between several forms of defamation, including those depending on the scale of the consequences and the media used. An important characteristic is premeditation of libel – in order for an action to be qualified as libel, it is necessary that the person is aware of the unreliability of the information and wants to spread it. The purpose of this study is to analyze the problems of defamation qualification in Russian criminal law. The problems of defamation qualification in Russian criminal law are closely related to the difficulties of establishing the intentions of the accused, as well as the ambiguity of interpretation of such a concept as «individually unidentified persons». To effectively solve these problems, it is necessary to further develop legislation, law enforcement practice, as well as the continuation of scientific research related to this issue.

Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, crime, defamation as a crime, qualification problems, false information, reputation, damage