"Public call" and "propaganda": the criminal law content of the terms

• Published in: Юридические исследования no. 6; pp. 44 - 52
• Main Author: Krasnov, Konstantin Vladimirovich
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2025
• ISSN: 2409-7136; 2409-7136
• DOI: 10.25136/2409-7136.2025.6.75040

The work discusses certain features of the criminal law content of the terms "public call" and "propaganda." The author notes that the current situation demonstrates the need to prevent various forms of destructive influence on all members of society. Increased attention to these categories of criminal law is linked, among other things, to the rise of informational threats in the digital space; the need to maintain a balance between permissible and criminal behavior; the complexity of the theoretical and practical significance, and so on. Within the framework of the work, the author attempts to define the concepts of "public call" and "propaganda" using three approaches: analyzing the concept with deductive tools; appealing to scholarly opinions; considering legal approaches to the interpretation of the terms of interest. The research employs a range of general scientific and specific scientific methods that allow for a comprehensive examination of the criminal law content of the terms "public call" and "propaganda." The foundation of the research is the universal dialectical method of cognition, which enables the study of the objectively existing patterns, essence, and content of these terms. As a result of the conducted research, a number of conclusions are drawn. In particular, it is established that there are legal definitions of the terms "public call for terrorist activity," "public calls for extremist activity," and "propaganda of terrorism." However, it should be noted that criminal legislation does not limit the mention of public calls and propaganda only within the framework of these criminal acts. The work offers the author's vision of the terms "public call" and "propaganda" in the context of criminal law. Additionally, it is established that the studied terms are similar but differ from one another. In this regard, criteria for their differentiation based on content and intended significance are proposed. In particular, in terms of content, a call implies a direct incitement to a specific action, while propaganda involves the systematic dissemination of ideas to shape a worldview. In terms of intended significance, a call aims to stimulate immediate action, whereas propaganda seeks to achieve long-term changes in beliefs or values.