A Retrospective Look at «Antiquarian» Crime Counteraction

Abstract

The article under consideration reflects the importance of the loss of cultural treasures for society and the need to preserve the cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia. There are vivid facts of criminal encroachments on cultural property and the nature of the damage from the lost treasures. The authors considered some measures to ensure their safety, and disclosed the role of the state in the criminal-legal protection of cultural values. On the basis of the analysis we present the guidelines for the work of the internal affairs bodies to detect, suppress, uncover and investigate crimes of this category. The authors provide a historical excursus on the legislation and practice of combating theft, damage and destruction of the treasures of national culture in the Russian Empire, Soviet and post-Soviet Russia. Particular attention is paid to the presented measures for the preservation of historical and cultural heritage after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The results of official criminal statistics on the detection of criminal encroachments of this category are given. The dynamics of criminal encroachments on the cultural heritage of Russia in comparison with general criminal offenses, beginning from the sixties of the last century and ending at the beginning of this century, is analyzed. Peculiarities of committing these encroachments depending on the structure, subject of the crime and place of committing the crime were studied. The geography of thefts of cultural property at the end of the last century is considered. The evaluation of the latent crime of the considered category is given.

The authors of the article presuppose the continuing importance of ensuring the preservation of historical, artistic and cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia and the positive experience in combating encroachments on cultural values.