Violation of the Right to Freedom of Conscience and Religion: Crime or Administrative Offence?

. The article discusses the problems that arise in the qualification of the violation of the right to freedom of conscience and religion, analyzes the corpus delicti provided for by Article 148 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, determines its object, and examines the issue of actions that form the objective side of the crime. The obtained data are compared with the signs of violation of the legislation on freedom of conscience, freedom of religion and religious associations, provided for by Article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. In the aspect of differentiation of these offenses, theoretical sources and judicial practice are analyzed. The author’s position is stated. A conclusion is made about the priority of the criminal law.