Crimes in the sphere of the economy

The Constitution protects market relations, the inviolability of private property and freedom of enterprise; the Criminal Code defines the most dangerous violations in the economic sphere as crimes. The kinds of theft of other people’s property differ by method: theft — secret taking; fraud — obtaining property by deceit or abuse of trust; embezzlement — appropriating property entrusted to the offender; robbery — open seizure; violent robbery — attack on property with violence dangerous to life or health. Today fraud is common online and with bank cards (for example, tricking someone into revealing a card password), and liability in such cases is also determined under the rules on crimes against property. Sham entrepreneurship means setting up an organisation with no intention of real activity in order to avoid tax or credit obligations or to cause harm. Tax evasion means concealing or understating taxes and fees due under the Tax Code; above the amount set by law criminal liability arises, while small amounts give rise to administrative or financial liability. Breaking rules on the use of electricity, gas and water supply, for example by tampering with a meter, is also a ground for liability.