News

Mr. Alexander Ivanovich Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, held a meeting on the work of the departmental Forensic Expert Center and its branches in the Federal districts. The event was attended by: First Deputy Chairman of the IC of Russia Mr. E.V. Kaburneev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee Mr. S.N. Goryainov, Head of the Main Forensic Directorate (Forensic Center) of the Investigative Committee of Russia Mr. A.I. Sazonov, Acting Director of the Forensic Expert Center of the Investigative Committee of Russia Mr. M.A. Ignashkin, acting Rector of the Moscow Academy of the Investigative Committee Mr. A.A. Bessonov, Heads of Directorates of the Main Directorate of the Russian Investigative Committee.

At the meeting, it was noted that the Forensic Expert Center was established two years ago by the decision of the President of the Russian Federation at the initiative of the Investigative Committee of Russia, and it plays an important role in the implementation of the tasks assigned to the Department on investigation of crimes of particular complexity. To date, the staff of the FEC is almost 100 percent staffed. Branches of the Center operate in seven Federal districts. Highly professional Officers of the FEC conduct 20 types of examinations. Among them: technical, economic, molecular-genetic, medical and other types of research, which contributes to the disclosure of many grave and especially grave crimes, in particular, crimes of past. In addition, the activities of the FEC effectively contribute to the reduction of the time of criminal investigations. Active interaction has been established with colleagues of specialized structures abroad, including with the Republic of Belarus.

It was noted that, in general, the number of expert studies conducted at the Сenter is steadily increasing. So, in 2021, almost 14 thousand examinations were conducted. About 16,000 examinations have already been completed over the nine months of this year. Moreover, the increase in the number of forensic examinations occurred in all types of research. The FEC capacities cover the needs of Investigating Authorities in the provision of information and analytical expertise, accounting, tax, estimated cost, phonoscopic, computer-technical research.

At the same time, it was emphasized that there are also strong expert institutions that conduct expertise on a wide range of issues in a number of structures of Law Enforcement Agencies. At the same time, the number of highly specialized specialists remains insignificant. In this regard, it was instructed to increase the power of the FEC in the field of conducting examinations of particular complexity in high-profile criminal cases that are in the proceeding of investigators of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia. An increase in the number of specialists is required to conduct psychological and linguistic examinations, which are necessary, in particular, when investigating the causes of suicides, which could help in the prevention of such incidents.

At the meeting, it was noted that large-scale work is being carried out with the participation of Officers of the Center for forensic expert determination of the amount and nature of the damage caused as a result of the criminal actions committed by the Kiev regime in Donbas. More than 60,000 buildings and infrastructure facilities were carefully examined within the performed examinations, and damage was estimated in the amount of more than 687.5 billion rubles. The replacement cost is estimated at 226.5 billion rubles. Work actively continues in this direction.

The issue of conducting certain types of examinations was discussed in detail, in particular, forensic medical examinations on documents, in the study of issues of providing medical care to citizens.

The issues of engaging specialists with special knowledge in the field of computer and information technologies were also discussed as it is needed for work in the FEC to conduct research on criminal cases in the field of IT technologies and on the deliberate use of insider information.

The participants of the meeting agreed that it is necessary to continue introducing the existing latest technologies into the activities of the FEC, to cooperate more actively with domestic companies that already have special software, developments and methods.

Also, the Head of the Investigative Committee of Russia instructed the leadership of the Moscow Academy of the Investigative Committee of Russia to work out the issue of improving the tactics of appointing forensic examinations; this will allow not only to reduce the time for obtaining the results of the study, but also to attract the necessary competent specialist capable of answering a question from a specific, even narrow-profile, field of knowledge.

Based on the results of the meeting, the Chairman of the IC of Russia instructed to analyze all the problems reviewed and submit a report on their solution as soon as possible. Mr. A.I. Bastrykin noted that it is necessary to strengthen interaction with expert institutions of other Law Enforcement Agencies, identify priority areas for the further development of the Center, taking into account modern forensic realities and the requirements of investigative practice, optimize the workload of experts, considering acceptable standards, practical needs and planned volume, as well as prospects for the development of areas expert activities, prepare proposals for equipping the FEC with modern equipment.

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia noted the need to constantly expand the technical capabilities of the FEC, as well as regularly analyze and update the list of ongoing research, taking into account the needs of the Department that arise during criminal investigations.