КРИМІНАЛЬНО-ПРАВОВА ПРОТИДІЯ СТВОРЕННЮ ФІНАНСОВИХ ПІРАМІД В УКРАЇНІ: СУЧАСНИЙ СТАН І ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ВДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ

Abstract

У статті розглядаються проблеми, пов’язані з кримінально-правовою оцінкою дій організаторів фінансових пірамід, і можливі шляхи їх розв’язання. Розкривається співвідношення організації фінансової піраміди та шахрайства. Аналізуються законопроекти, ухвалення яких мало унеможливити функціонування фінансових пірамід в Україні. Висвітлюється відповідний зарубіжний досвід. Обґрунтовується положення про те, що Кримінальний кодекс України потребує не казуїстичної заборони щодо створення фінансової піраміди, а загальної норми про відповідальність за незаконне надання фінансових послуг

В статье рассматриваются проблемы, связанные с уголовно-правовой оценкой действий организаторов финансовых пирамид, и возможные пути их решения. Раскрывается соотношение организации финансовой пирамиды и мошенничества. Анализируются законопроекты, принятие которых должно было исключить функционирование финансовых пирамид в Украине. Освещается соответствующий зарубежный опыт. Обосновывается положение о том, что Уголовный кодекс Украины требует не казуистического запрета относительно создания финансовой пирамиды, а общей нормы об ответственности за незаконное предоставление финансовых услуг

The article discusses issues associated with the criminal law assessment of actions by the organizers of financial pyramids and possible solutions to resolving them. Based on the results of the analysis of legislation of Ukraine on consumer protection a conclusion is made that failure to provide effective protection of consumers of financial services from activities of financial pyramids using the provisions of this law. It is also established that current criminal law is not able to fulfill one of its main objectives declared in part 1, Article 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – to protect human and civil rights (specifically consumers of financial services) from such kind of socially dangerous behavior as organization of financial pyramids. The ratio between organization of financial pyramid and fraud is revealed. The position that there are no sufficient reasons to equate the creation of financial pyramid with fraud is argued. In particular, it is stated that if a person is aware of the fact of fraudulent actions committed against her, but despite this and hoping to obtain property benefits is involved in a particular transaction (such as by taking a risk and hoping to leave the game in time, has invested money in a financial pyramid) then the crime "fraud" is missing. In such case, defect of expression as typical for this crime against property is absent. Given the need to prove fraud or breach of trust to charge criminal law prohibitions as to fraud an opportunity available today there is no (or at least seriously complicated), and this is caused by the need to criminalize such act as organizing a financial pyramid is mentioned. However, the organization of financial pyramid should be stated (in the case of criminalization of this act – to qualify under the relevant provision of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) regardless of whether the investors are aware of the possibility of losing deposits made by them. However, if it is found that while engaging the respective contributions by the organizers of the pyramid there was still fraud (for example, they promised investors to invest money in production, without actually having such intention), the actions of the perpetrators should be additionally qualified under Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Draft laws, the adoption of which was intended to prevent the functioning of financial pyramids in Ukraine, are analyzed. It is shown how the issue of registration of criminal law prohibition on organization of financial pyramids was resolved by the authors of the relevant legislative initiatives. It is proved that the creation of the financial pyramid has to be regarded not as an encroachment on the property, but as an economic crime. Foreign experience of the researched subject is revealed. Possible ways and difficulties of constructing appropriate criminal law ban are discussed. The position that the Criminal Code of Ukraine requires not the casuistically ban on creation of the financial pyramid and the general provision on liability for unlawful provision financial services