Criminalistic Significant Features of Religious Extremism

Given the current situation in the world, the problems of combating crimes of an extremist nature have acquired special significance. For Russia, as for any other state, extremism and terrorism pose threats to interethnic relations, territorial integrity, as well as the internal and external security of the country. At the same time, along with various types of crimes of an extremist nature, religious extremism has become widespread. At the same time, many problems of forensic counteraction to crimes related to religious extremism have practically not been considered in scientific literature. In order to develop a methodology for investigating such crimes, tactical recommendations for conducting individual investigative actions or recommendations related to the use of special knowledge, it is first necessary to define the concept of religious extremism, identify its main varieties and study the main forensically significant features. The purpose of the study was to identify the forensic features of religious extremism and identify their scientific patterns based on the analysis of investigative practice materials and their comparison with the specifics of crimes and offenses related to other types of extremist activity. In conducting the scientific study, the authors used methods of situational analysis and modeling, methods of comparison and comparative law. The authors have identified the essence of religious extremism, described its varieties, and shown the forensic features of individual elements of the forensic characteristics of religious extremism, which is important for the development of forensic measures to counter and prevent this dangerous phenomenon.