Opportunities for improvement of the system of mitigating circumstances in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation taking into account foreign experience

The author examines the mitigating circumstances outlined in the criminal legislation of foreign countries. A comparative analysis was carried out between the norm providing for a list of circumstances mitigating punishment, enshrined in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and similar norms of the criminal laws of foreign countries. The positive aspects of the legislative regulation of circumstances mitigating punishment in foreign countries are highlighted, which can be further taken into account when changing the domestic criminal law and can influence the increase in the effectiveness of the studied norm.