Countering the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in Russia: historical, legal and international legal aspects
Illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is an international and national problem. Russia has ratified a number of international legal instruments providing the control of illicit drugs and substances. Within the framework of national legislation, it has developed two strategies: to reduce illicit drug demand and supply. International counteraction of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is a system of normative legal acts. However, the legislative differences of the States participating in international cooperation reduce their effectiveness. Considering international recommendations, Russia in the Soviet and post-Soviet period improved its anti-drug legislation. With the use of the historical method, the terminology of the criminal law is supplemented by the systematization of the Russian criminal legislation in the field of combating illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in various historical periods. Using a comparative legal analysis, periods of development of international legal conventional cooperation were identified. The conclusion about an international attempt to weaken international and national control over illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances aimed at eliminating the system of international drug safety is made. Formal element of a definition of a crime under articles 228 and 228.1 of the current Criminal code of the Russian Federation are analyzed in the article. The results of comparative legal analysis of given above articles’ dispositions and sanctions are introduced.