The nature of the liability-excluding circumstances

Introduction: the work describes the issue of discovering the legal nature of the circumstances that exclude liability. Purpose: the place of the circumstances excluding liability is analyzed in the system of the liability institutions, the principal features of such circumstances are defined. Methods: the methodology of the research is based on the dialectical method of the scientific cognition. The author uses general scientific methods (analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, system analysis) and specific scientific methods of research (technical legal method and comparative legal method). Results: the legal nature is specified of the circumstances excluding a person's liability for the crime committed, as well as their place and meaning in the system of the liability institution. Besides, the special features are defined that distinguish these circumstances among other similar phenomena, their notion is formulated. Principal directions are shown of the scientific analysis of the circumstances that exclude liability, as well as the corresponding ways of the Russian legislation improvement. Conclusions: the circumstances that exclude liability are defined by the author as the inter-branch institution consisting of a set of circumstances (events) of the universal character that make the crime committed by the person and having external features of element of offense, is acknowledged (is) socially useful and legal; the person is not brought to any type of negative liability, and the application of the protective measures in law for him is limited by special directions of the law.