Criminal Liability of Legal Entities: Problems and Prospects

Modern crime involves using legal entities for illegal activities related to tax, corruption, environmental, and other crimes. And while current Russian legislation only envisages criminal liability for individuals, a long-standing discussion continues about the possibility of imposing liability for corporate crimes. In recent years, several bills have been prepared, but so far legislators have limited them to administrative penalties for legal entities that participate in illegal activities. Meanwhile, companies are held criminally liable in many countries, and also in accordance with international legal acts that aim to combat certain types of crimes. Does this institution need to be incorporated into Russian legislation, and what consequences would these changes have for criminal law and proceedings? What risks would the introduction of criminal liability for legal entities cause for business? How can holding companies criminally liable contribute to protecting the rights of conscientious business entities and the interests of the public and the government?