The system of countering economic crimes in Russia is based on the principle of interdepartmental interaction, which involves the distribution of powers between specialized bodies, each of which focuses on a specific segment of threats. This model is aimed at creating a comprehensive «protective perimeter» around the country's financial and economic system.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA of Russia). It is the cornerstone of the system. The Main Directorate for Economic Security and Anti-Corruption (GUEBiPC) and its territorial divisions play a key role in its structure. The Ministry of Internal Affairs carries out operational investigative activities and preliminary investigations of a significant array of «massive» economic crimes: fraud (Articles 159–159.6 of the Criminal Code), illegal entrepreneurship (Article 171 of the Criminal Code), crimes on the consumer market, as well as the legalization of proceeds from crime (art. 174, 174.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), in cases not related to particularly large size or complex schemes. A wide regional network allows the Ministry of Internal Affairs to quickly respond to threats throughout the country [3].
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (TFR). Focuses on the investigation of the most complex, high-profile and socially significant economic crimes. Its jurisdiction includes cases of large-scale corruption (including crimes under Articles 290, 291 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), abuse of senior officials, crimes against the foundations of the constitutional system and state power related to economic activity. The TFR has specialized investigative units staffed by experts with deep knowledge in the field of financial analysis, accounting and forensic economic expertise, which is critically important for investigating multi-episode cases using offshore schemes [4].
The Federal Security Service (FSB of Russia). Provides counteraction to economic crimes in the context of national security. The FSB's competence includes combating corruption in strategic sectors of the economy (the military-industrial complex, energy, transport), countering the illegal export of capital that threatens economic sovereignty, as well as investigating crimes related to state secrets, the smuggling of strategic resources, and the activities of foreign intelligence agencies in the economic sphere. The FSB plays a key role in the implementation of measures to counter sanctions pressure and ensure the security of the financial infrastructure [4].
Federal Financial Monitoring Service (Rosfinmonitoring). Performs the functions of the national Financial intelligence Center. Its activities are primarily preventive and analytical in nature. Rosfinmonitoring monitors financial transactions for signs of money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Service maintains an all-Russian database on suspicious transactions and clients, provides information interaction with law enforcement agencies, and is responsible for ensuring that the national system complies with international FATF standards (the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering). The development of a proactive security model is directly related to the strengthening of analytical capabilities of Rosfinmonitoring [1].
The Federal Tax Service (FTS of Russia). In addition to fiscal functions, the Federal Tax Service has broad oversight and law enforcement powers. The tax authorities identify and investigate crimes provided for in Articles 198 and 199 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (tax evasion), conduct desk and field inspections, as well as operational investigative measures. The close cooperation of the Federal Tax Service with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the TFR within the framework of joint investigative and operational groups is a standard practice in investigating complex tax fraud schemes using chains of one-day firms.
The Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation. Oversees the legality of the preliminary investigation and inquiry into all categories of economic crimes. The Prosecutor's Office coordinates the activities of law enforcement agencies, ensuring uniformity of law enforcement practice and overcoming departmental barriers. In certain cases, the prosecutor is also entitled to initiate criminal proceedings on economic offences [4].
The legal framework for countering economic crimes in Russia, the core of which is the Criminal Code, has undergone significant strengthening and modernization in recent years, reflecting the growing complexity of financial schemes and global challenges. The key step was the detailed criminalization of operations for the legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime, as stipulated in Articles 174 and 174.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. These rules make it possible to bring to justice not only for the primary act, such as fraud or bribery, but also for any actions aimed at making the origin of these funds appear legitimate, including financial transactions using front persons and complex corporate structures. An important addition to this arsenal was the institution of extended confiscation. This mechanism allows the State to seize property whose value does not correspond to the documented legitimate income of a person convicted of a serious or especially serious crime, even if the direct connection of this property with a specific criminal episode has not been proven. It is a powerful tool against corrupt officials and organized criminal groups who actively disguise their assets. At the same time, a policy of so-called «deoffshorization» was implemented, expressed in the adoption of laws on controlled foreign companies (CFC) and on the automatic exchange of tax information. These measures are aimed at establishing transparency of the ultimate beneficial ownership of assets of Russian tax residents abroad and countering uncontrolled capital outflow to offshore jurisdictions. Strict regulation of the financial sector within the framework of Federal Law No. 115-FZ «On Countering the Legalization (Laundering) of Proceeds from Crime and the Financing of Terrorism» also plays an essential role. This law obliges banks, payment systems, insurance companies and other financial market organizations to implement robust internal control systems, identify and do due diligence customers, as well as suspend suspicious transactions and report them to Rosfinmonitoring. In addition, the legislator toughened the liability for malicious evasion from repayment of accounts payable (Article 177 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and for intentional or fictitious bankruptcy (art. 196, 197 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), which is designed to protect the interests of creditors and prevent the use of insolvency proceedings as a tool for the illegal withdrawal of assets. The combination of these legal instruments forms a multi–layered barrier aimed at complicating the extraction and preservation of criminal proceeds at all stages — from the commission of a primary offense to the integration of «dirty» money into the legal economy. [1]
The modern system of countering economic crimes in Russia operates in an unprecedentedly dynamic and complex operating environment, which generates a number of interrelated urgent challenges and at the same time stimulates a profound paradigm shift in approaches to ensuring economic security. The fundamental challenge was the total digitalization of the economy and social interactions, which, on the one hand, created new opportunities for growth, and on the other, gave rise to a new generation of cyber economic crimes. Traditional fraud schemes have transformed into sophisticated cyber attacks such as phishing, carding, business email compromise (BEC attacks), and ransomware attacks on corporations and critical infrastructure. Of particular difficulty is the use of crypto assets and decentralized financial services (DeFi), which provide a high degree of anonymity in the cross-border movement of funds, complicating the traditional financial footprint and making many investigative methods obsolete. This challenge requires not just a targeted update of legislation, but a fundamental restructuring of the technical and human resources of law enforcement agencies, the development of specialized cyber units and the establishment of fundamentally new formats of international cooperation in an environment where the jurisdiction of a crime is often not obvious.
In parallel with the digital transformation, the system was shocked by the unprecedented sanctions pressure that began in 2022. This not only added a new type of offense — circumvention of restrictive measures — but also created a qualitatively new reality in which priorities instantly shifted towards protecting economic sovereignty and financial stability. Combating illegal capital withdrawal, ensuring the security of the national payment system, and protecting supply chains of strategically important goods have become national security objectives of the first order. This led to a forced and extremely intensive convergence of the functions of various departments: the FSB's counterintelligence activities were closely intertwined with the financial analytics of Rosfinmonitoring and the operational investigative work of the Interior Ministry and the TFR. Sanctions, in fact, acted as a catalyst for the formation of a more holistic and centralized economic risk management circuit, where intelligence, data analysis and law enforcement merge into a single process.
The Russian Federation has established a comprehensive, albeit complex, institutional architecture to combat economic crimes. It combines traditional law enforcement methods with financial monitoring and specialized investigative units. The system is currently undergoing a stress test due to geopolitical factors and the digital transformation of the economy. Its future effectiveness will depend on successful adaptation to cyber threats, the ability to manage the risks associated with sanctions, and consistent depoliticized application of the law to ensure equal conditions for all participants in economic activity. The ongoing paradigm shift from a reactive to a more proactive, intelligence-based model of financial and economic security appears to be the central trajectory of its development.
References:
- Alibekova Asiyat Muradovna, Arslanbekova Aminat Zaidullayevna On the need to improve the system of measures to combat crimes in the financial sector // European science. 2018. No. 8 (40). URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/k-voprosu-o-neobhodimosti-sovershenstvovaniya-sistemy-mer-protivodeystviya-prestupleniyam-v-finansovoy-sfere (date of request: 12.12.2025).
- Markina S. et al. Countering economic crime in the context of globalization //SHS Web of Conferences. — EDP Sciences, 2021. — Т. 92. — С. 07040. (date of request: 11.12.2025)
- Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation — URL: https://en.mvd.ru/ (date of request: 10.12.2025)
- Shkhagapsoev Z. L. Current Issues in the Fight With Economic Crime in the Russian Federation //Gaps in Russian Legislation. — 2024. — Т. 17. — №. 4. — С. 18–22.
