A Brief Guide for Investigators and Inquirers

«A Brief Guide for Investigators and Inquirers» — this is a guide on pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings. Boris Timofeevich Bezlepkih succinctly presents the foundations of legislation, theory, and practice related to pre-trial proceedings in criminal cases. The publication is intended for those who need to quickly recall the key aspects of the criminal process, understand contentious issues, and see where the application of law diverges from the legal formulations.

The focus is on pre-trial investigation as part of criminal procedural law. The book gathers basic and applied questions related to the work of investigators and inquirers:

• initiation of criminal proceedings
• evidence
• investigative actions
• suspension and completion of the investigation
• relationship between investigative and operational-search activities
• inquiry in abbreviated form

The main emphasis is placed not only on the basics but also on those areas where difficulties frequently arise. The author highlights new, contentious, and ambiguous aspects in the legislation and shows issues where there is no necessary uniformity in practical application. This approach makes the guide useful not only for revisiting norms but also for understanding problematic areas of criminal procedural practice. The appendices include two regulatory acts that are used in pre-trial activities alongside the Criminal Procedure Code, although they are not widely known.

The publication is primarily aimed at investigators and inquirers. It is especially convenient for those who have not yet obtained a higher legal education or want to refresh their knowledge of the constantly changing criminal procedural law. The guide may also interest students and listeners of law schools who need compact material on the topics of pre-trial investigation, investigative actions, and evidence. It is a suitable choice for those seeking not a general overview of the law but a brief and specific presentation of issues in pre-trial proceedings.