Abstract: This article discusses the controversial questions emerging in the context of judicial implementation of the Part 6 of the Article 15 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on changing the grade of the crime for a less grave. The author identifies certain problems in legislative regulation pertinent to the transformation of the category of crime, and suggests the ways for their elimination. Part 6 of the Article 15 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is viewed through the prism of liberalization and humanization of the criminal legislation. The author notes that the declared vector of liberalization and humanization of the criminal legislation can be realized via introducing the corresponding amendments into the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. The main conclusion of this research lies in the fact that the enforcement of the Part 6 of the Article 15 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation leads to a number of the criminal legal and criminal procedural issues that contribute to the accomplishment of objectives of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The author underlines that the ambiguity of the legislative formulation casts a doubt on its unambiguous application. In case of revealing contradictions between the criminal and criminal procedure legislations, the priority should take the norms of substantive law, i.e. the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, while the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation should be brought into accord with the criminal law.

Abstract: This article discusses the controversial questions emerging in the context of judicial implementation of the Part 6 of the Article 15 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on changing the grade of the crime for a less grave. The author identifies certain problems in legislative regulation pertinent to the transformation of the category of crime, and suggests the ways for their elimination. Part 6 of the Article 15 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is viewed through the prism of liberalization and humanization of the criminal legislation. The author notes that the declared vector of liberalization and humanization of the criminal legislation can be realized via introducing the corresponding amendments into the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. The main conclusion of this research lies in the fact that the enforcement of the Part 6 of the Article 15 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation leads to a number of the criminal legal and criminal procedural issues that contribute to the accomplishment of objectives of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The author underlines that the ambiguity of the legislative formulation casts a doubt on its unambiguous application. In case of revealing contradictions between the criminal and criminal procedure legislations, the priority should take the norms of substantive law, i.e. the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, while the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation should be brought into accord with the criminal law.