Evolution of criminal legislation on liability for mass riots (article 212 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation)

The purpose of the study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of criminal legislation establishing liability for mass riots from the perspective of historical development, criminal law theory, and the current state of law enforcement practice. The research aims to identify the patterns of formation and transformation of legal norms ensuring criminal law protection of public security, as well as to determine the main directions for improving Article 212 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, taking into account modern socio-political conditions and the need to balance state interests with individual rights. Results. The study has shown that the development of legislation on liability for mass riots reflects the transformation of state policy in the field of public security. While in the Soviet period the main focus was on protecting state interests and suppressing class conflicts, modern legislation seeks to differentiate liability according to the forms and degree of public danger of the act. At the same time, law enforcement still faces challenges due to the lack of uniformity in defining the object of the crime and in distinguishing mass riots from related offenses. The need for further improvement of criminal law provisions is emphasized in order to enhance the effectiveness of protecting public safety and the rights of citizens.