Criminals
Who takes something secretly?
A thief
1) The police officer __________ read the suspect their rights before questioning. (strong legal duty)
2) In Russia, a shoplifter __________ return the stolen goods, but they can also be fined or jailed. (present obligation)
1) must – Police must read rights
2) has to – Present obligation under criminal law.
A shop sells you expired milk.
Civil (consumer claim). You can return the product and claim compensation under the Consumer Protection Law (Закон "О защите прав потребителей"). Criminal liability only applies if the shop systematically sells dangerous goods causing harm to health (ст.238 УК РФ – production/sale of unsafe goods).
A cashier accidentally gives you too little change.
Neither. This is an honest mistake, not a crime (no criminal intent). Russian law requires intent for fraud (ст.159 УК РФ). You can politely ask for the correct change, but no legal claim.
In Russia, a witness must answer all police questions immediately, even without a lawyer present.
FALSE: A witness does not have to (or must not be forced to) answer questions without a lawyer. Under Russian Criminal Procedure Code, a witness has the right to remain silent and to have a lawyer present. Correction: "A witness doesn't have to answer all police questions immediately without a lawyer."
Who takes money by force (e.g. from a bank)?
A robber
Yesterday, the witness __________ wait two hours before the judge arrived. (past obligation)
You __________ prove someone intended to commit fraud for it to be a crime – accident is not enough. (no present obligation)
had to – Past obligation.
don't have to – No need to prove intent for strict liability offences, but for fraud, intent is required.
Your friend borrows 50,000 ₽ and never returns it.
Civil only (usually). This is a civil debt (неосновательное обогащение или договор займа). However, if your friend lied from the start with intent to defraud, it becomes criminal fraud (мошенничество, ст.159 УК РФ) . The threshold for criminal fraud can be as low as 2,500 ₽ in some cases.
Someone steals your bicycle from the stairwell or yard.
Criminal: Theft (кража) under Article 158 of the Criminal Code . If the bicycle is worth over 5,000 ₽, the damage may be considered "significant" (ч.2 ст.158 УК РФ) .
Civil: You can sue for compensation under Article 1064 of the Civil Code.
A website advertisement for a product doesn't have to contain the full price. The seller can add extra fees later.A website advertisement for a product doesn't have to contain the full price. The seller can add extra fees later.
FALSE: Under Russian Civil Code, a public offer on a website containing product details and price is binding. The seller cannot change the price after the order is made. So "A website advertisement has to contain the full price. The seller cannot add extra fees later."
Who sets fire to a building?
An arsonist
The defendant __________ pay compensation because the victim dropped the civil claim. (no past obligation)
A burglar __________ enter a building illegally. That is the main element of the crime. (present obligation – definition)
didn't have to – Past: no obligation because the claim was dropped.
has to – Definition of burglary (illegal entry).
Your dog (under your control) breaks a neighbour's vase.
Civil only. The person who had actual control of the animal at the time is liable (нести ответственность). According to Article 1064 of the Civil Code, harm to property must be compensated by the person responsible for the animal at that moment. If your neighbour was watching the dog, they may be liable, not you . This is a civil matter, not criminal (no criminal intent (намерение) by animal).
A man punches someone in a pub fight.
Criminal (or Administrative – depends on circumstances).
- Administrative (ст.6.1.1 КоАП РФ): First-time offence without "hooligan motives" → fine 5,000–30,000 ₽, arrest, or community service .
- Criminal (ст.116 УК РФ): If done from hooligan motives, political/ethnic hatred, or with public display → up to 2 years in prison .
Civil: The victim can sue for medical expenses and compensation for emotional harm under Civil Code.
A shoplifter doesn't have to return stolen goods. Only paying a fine is required.
FALSE: Return of stolen goods is legally required; it is not optional. So "A shoplifter has to return stolen goods. It is required by law."
Who enters a house to steal something?
A burglar
Last week, the lawyer __________ prepare 20 documents for the court case. (past obligation)
You __________ show your passport to police if they ask, but you can remain silent. Only the first part is required by law. (strong legal duty)
had to – Past duty.
must – Passport control law (but you can remain silent).
A driver runs a red light and hits your car, but nobody is hurt.
Both.
Criminal/Administrative: Running a red light is an administrative offence (КоАП РФ – traffic violation). If the driver was drunk (ст.264.1 УК РФ) or fled the scene (оставление места ДТП, ст.12.27 КоАП РФ), criminal liability may apply.
Civil: The driver must pay for car repairs under Civil Code.
Your neighbour plays loud music at 3 AM and you can't sleep.
Administrative (not criminal). Under Russian law, this is an administrative offence, not criminal. Federal law sets quiet hours from 23:00 to 07:00 (40 dBA day / 30 dBA night) . Police can issue a fine of 100–500 ₽ (ст.6.3 КоАП РФ) or 500–1,000 ₽ (ст.6.4 КоАП РФ) . Regional laws may add extra restrictions (e.g., quiet hours from 13:00–15:00 in some regions) .
In Russia, a citizen has to show their internal passport (domestic passport) to police when asked, even if they are not suspected of a crime.
TRUE: Under the Law on Police (Article 13, Clause 2), police have the right to check documents of any citizen if there are grounds to suspect them of a crime or administrative offence. However, in practice, police can request documents from any person in a public place, and the citizen has to present their passport. Refusal can lead to detention (задержание) for up to 48 hours for identity verification.
Who takes something or somebody secretly or illegally into or out of a place?
A smuggler
In a civil claim, the claimant __________ prove their loss, but they __________ prove the defendant acted with criminal intent. (first gap: present obligation / second gap: no present obligation)
When my neighbour broke my window, I __________ start a civil claim – but I did it to recover the repair costs. (no past obligation)
has to / doesn't have to – In civil law: claimant proves loss; criminal intent is not required.
didn't have to – No legal obligation to sue; it was voluntary.
A company lies about a product and you lose £100.
Both (possibly).
Civil: You can sue for consumer fraud under the Consumer Protection Law – compensation, penalty, and emotional harm.
Criminal: If the fraud is large-scale (крупный размер, usually over 250,000 ₽ for consumers) or systematic, it becomes criminal fraud (ст.159 УК РФ). For smaller amounts, it remains a civil/administrative matter.
A person is found by police with a small amount of marijuana (cannabis) in their pocket for personal use. They are not selling it.
Criminal. Under Russian law, ANY possession of drugs is a criminal offence – there is no "personal use" exception like in some Western countries .
Punishment depends on the amount:
• Significant size (значительный размер) – Part 1, Article 228: fine up to 40,000 ₽, or compulsory works up to 480 hours, or restriction of liberty up to 3 years, or imprisonment up to 3 years .
• Large size (крупный размер) – Part 2, Article 228: imprisonment from 3 to 10 years, plus fine up to 500,000 ₽ .
• Especially large size (особо крупный размер) – Part 3, Article 228: imprisonment from 10 to 15 years, plus fine up to 500,000 ₽ .
Civil: No civil claim because the harm is to society (the state), not to a specific person.
A person who finds a lost wallet on the street doesn't have to return it to the owner. They can keep the money.
FALSE: Under Article 227 of the Russian Civil Code, a person who finds lost property must take steps to return it to the owner. If the owner is unknown, the finder must report the finding to the police or local authorities. Keeping the money without attempting to return it is illegal.