Victimological Analysis of Crime in the Foreign Trade of Sturgeon Species

The article is a victimology study of crimes related to the international trade in sturgeon species and their products, including caviar. The author substantiates the expediency of including a number of personally undefined subjects and social institutions in the circle of victims of such crimes: the state, the population of certain regions or the country as a whole, and fish farms. The criteria for identifying these individuals and social categories were based on various negative socio-economic consequences that may indicate a high level of vulnerability to these criminal acts. A set of measures has been proposed to reduce the criminal activity under study and, consequently, to protect the rights and legitimate interests of these individuals. These measures include strengthening state control over the import of sturgeon species, tightening the rules for individuals to import and export sturgeon caviar for personal consumption, improvement of technical methods for issuing permits and certificates for the movement of samples protected by national and international legislation across the State Border of the Russian Federation. Other possible areas of counteraction to such crimes have been identified, including international cooperation, state support for commercial sturgeon farming, and legal education for officials and citizens.