Investigation of Crimes Under Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation Related to Causing Property Damage to Energy Supply Organizations

Introduction: Russia, a country with great potential and ambitious development plans, is facing a serious threat: an impending shortage of electricity. The most acute shortage of electricity is expected to occur in the Far East and Siberia, and this shortage is projected to create significant obstacles to the regions' rapid development as early as 2026. In other regions of the country, there is a consistently high level of electricity theft, as well as violations of the rules for connecting to electrical networks, installation requirements, and the use of electricity, as well as violations in the payment of consumed electricity. This negative social phenomenon is widespread and causes significant damage to electricity producers, energy supply companies, and the state. Materials and Methods: the research materials were norm 165 of the current criminal law, as well as the criminal procedure legislation of Russia, materials of judicial and investigative practice. The research uses general scientific (analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction) and special legal methods (formal legal, comparative legal method, etc.). Together, they allowed for a proper analysis of problematic issues in the investigation of crimes under art. 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation related to causing property damage to energy supply organizations. Literature review: the authors took into account the contribution of S.A. Eliseev, E.A. Babushkina, A.G. Museibov, A.I. Boitsov and P.S. Yani to the analysis of problematic issues in the investigation of crimes under Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation related to causing property damage to energy supply organizations. Results: a study of the criminal situation related to crimes under Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation committed on the facts of illegal consumption of electricity shows that the practice of detecting such crimes is insignificant. Criminal cases on such facts are rarely initiated, and even fewer criminal cases are sent to court. The study analyzed the methods of committing criminal use of electricity, and also considered the main problems faced by law enforcement officers in identifying and investigating crimes under Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on the facts of illegal use of electricity, that is, causing property damage to the owner or other owner of property by deception or abuse of trust in the absence of signs of theft. Discussion and Conclusions: based on the analysis of the studied criminal cases, as well as the problems identified during their investigation, the authors propose recommendations on the algorithm of initial verification measures necessary to establish the presence of signs of a crime under Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and resolve the issue of initiating a criminal case, as well as subsequent investigative actions and PRM necessary for a successful investigation a criminal case on a specific fact.