International legal assistance in criminal cases: current state, problems and development prospects

The article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the international legal assistance in criminal cases as one of the key elements of modern interstate cooperation against crime. In the context of globalization and transnationalization of criminal activity, as well as the rapid development of information and communication technologies, traditional legal aid mechanisms no longer meet the needs of law enforcement practice. The paper analyzes a multi-level system of legal regulation of international legal assistance, including universal international treaties (UN conventions), regional agreements (within the framework of the Council of Europe, the CIS, the SCO) and bilateral treaties of the Russian Federation with foreign states. Special attention is paid to the activities of Interpol in ensuring the operational interaction of the competent authorities. The current problems of law enforcement practice are considered: the inconsistency of domestic legislation with modern realities, the lack of uniform standards for electronic document management, the politicization of extradition requests, and the delay in the execution of requests. The article analyzes promising areas for improving legal aid mechanisms, including the introduction of simplified procedures for the exchange of electronic evidence, the development of direct contacts between competent authorities, and the unification of procedural requirements for requests. The role of the Russian Federation in the development of universal international legal acts, in particular the UN Convention against Cybercrime of 2024, is being studied separately. As a result of the conducted research, the author has identified significant problems of the current state of the institute of international legal assistance, including the politicization of legal aid procedures; their use as a tool of pressure; inconsistency of international and domestic norms, etc. In addition, the author outlines promising areas for the development of the institute of international legal assistance, which include the digitalization of interaction procedures; the development of direct contacts between the competent authorities of states, etc.