Myths and realities of modern Russian pre-trial proceedings

The article examines the problems of the current state and proposals for improving the Russian criminal procedural legislation governing the stages of initiation and investigation of criminal cases both in the form of preliminary investigation and inquiry and their role in the fight against crime. Based on statistical data on the results of the investigation of criminal cases and their consideration by the courts from the standpoint of ensuring the quality and timing of the preliminary investigation, the state of legality, as well as the results of the study of these problems by other Russian scientists, it is shown that the issues considered in this article are of both scientific and applied interest. The publication also discusses the reasons and conditions for a significant decrease over the past decades in the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies providing the constitutional right of citizens to access to justice and compensation for damage caused to them, which hinders the proper implementation of the purpose of criminal proceedings.