Anatoly Fedorovich Koni is an exemplary Russian official

In the article, the author analyzes A. F. Koni’s contribution to the practice and theoretical understanding of the Judicial Reform of 1864. The article touches upon the reasons for the legislative changes related to the judicial system and process that followed the approval of the documents by the Judicial Reform of 1864. It is proposed to distinguish between changes that radically changed the principles laid down in Judicial reform and those that partially adapted it to the circumstances of the time, in particular, to an increase in revolutionary activity. Changes in the legal regulation of the investigation and consideration of state crimes lead to a division of views on the fight against political crime among Russian officials. Liberal circles, including A. F. Koni, advocate greater attention to educational work among young people, the conservative-minded part of society insists on strengthening the repressive principle. In the 1870s, the half-hearted policy of the government, caused by the unprecedented growth of terrorism in the country, failed to establish unity of views on ways to combat anti-government protests among law enforcement officers. The case of V. Zasulich is considered as an example of such half-heartedness in the government’s fight against state crime, when, in order to “mitigate” tension, an attempt was made to present a typical state crime as an attempted revenge murder.