Currently, the Federation Council has submitted to the Duma a draft amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, according to which investigators would be able to conduct interrogations and identification through video communication. This measure would greatly facilitate the work of an investigator and speed up investigation. At the same time, it is proposed to provide for the features of use of video communication when conducting investigative actions, without specifying the participants of the criminal process and without limiting the use of such communication.

The bill was criticized by some practitioners, believing that this format would not allow to verify the reliability of testimonies, since it is important to personally observe the behavior of the interrogated and see the emotions of interlocutors. Modern video equipment conveys all human emotions. The video recording, attached to the materials of the criminal case, will allow a judge in the future, if necessary, to evaluate the given testimony on the basis of his inner conviction. An investigator in the existing Russian criminal process takes notes and checks them with the help of other investigative actions. In accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, the interrogation protocol is an accurate summary of an interrogated person's speech. If at the present time an investigator, when drawing up the interrogation protocol, simultaneously asks questions, observes the behavior, takes notes, and corrects the testimony, then those actions only interfere with the establishment of the truth, since it gives the interrogated time to think over the answers. There is an interesting proposal of E.P. Ishchenko, who proposes to use a smartphone with a special application that makes audio recording (like a dictaphone recorder) and provides text processing of recorded information. An investigator only needs to copy the text from the application and process it (Ishchenko et al, 2017).

We are supporters of innovations in the criminal process, we believe that it is time to eradicate many institutions that do not meet modern requirements for conducting investigative actions. An investigator spends a lot of time organizing investigative actions. By analogy with Article 278.1. of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, we believe that it is necessary to regulate interrogation using videoconferencing systems. An investigating person instructs the investigative authority at the location of a witness to organize interrogation by using videoconferencing systems, while the identity of the witness is verified, and subscription is taken to explain the rights, duties and responsibilities provided for by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation before the interrogation begins.

We absolutely agree with the opinion of S.A. Novikov, who rightly notes that it is necessary to legislatively consolidate the possibility of using videoconferencing during the preliminary investigation. Despite possibility of an investigator to instruct another investigator in the course of such investigative actions as interrogation and confrontation, an assigned investigator for criminal case will conduct the interrogation better, since he knows all the circumstances of the case. Moreover, during the interrogation clarifying questions may arise, the answers to which may significantly affect the course of investigation (Novikov, 2014).

Videoconferencing technology has become one of the most relevant and widespread tools against the background of the pandemic, however, many processualists have questioned the proper protection of information and personal data. So, L. Mayrova notes that in practice there are examples when an investigator conducted investigative actions using Skype, and even went to the court with a petition for applying a measure of restraint. The activity of investigator is commendable, especially in the conditions of pandemic, when all reasonable deadlines expire, but there is a problem of personal data protection. The parties are located remotely from each other at different computers, so it is unknown who else is present in the rooms As a solution to the problem, proctoring can be used — this is a control procedure where the whole process is supervised by an administrator — proctor (specialist, expert). He follows the actions using webcam and sees what is happening on the computer monitor and in the room. Before conducting an investigative action, an investigator should ask to show the room from which the videoconference is being made, make sure there are no unauthorized persons, and ask to position the monitor so that there is an overview of the front door. In any case, the regulation of conducting "remote" investigative actions requires careful but accelerated development.

Another problem of conducting interrogations and other investigative actions is the widespread violation of individual rights.

We interviewed accused and convicted persons, investigative and operational workers, as a result of questioning it was found that, according to the majority of respondents, the current legislation does not protect the rights of an individual violated during the preliminary investigation.

None of the accused and convicted persons interviewed (106 people) believes that their rights are guaranteed.

An anonymous survey of officials of the investigation and prosecutor's offices (23 people) showed that during the interrogation they often use intimidation in order to obtain testimony quickly. 60% of respondents believe that blackmail, lies, promises relate to the methods and tactics of interrogation; 13% do not admit treatment that degrades human dignity in their activities; 60% believe that the conduct of interrogations does not meet the requirements of respect for the dignity of the individual.

Approximately half of the respondents admitted that for the purpose of prompt and effective investigation they resorted to the methods and tactics of interrogation that cause fear, depression, resentment, without thinking that such treatment causes moral suffering.

The use of video recordings during investigative actions will also help to solve this problem. If the interrogation rooms and other investigative actions are equipped with video recording equipment, this will facilitate the conduct of interrogation and will protect the rights of the interrogated, as well as officials from slander. In addition, it is necessary to give the opportunity to immediately, including remotely, appeal against the actions of officials, which will make criminal proceedings more open and “transparent”.

The processualists have controversies regarding the institution of witnesses in criminal proceedings.

Article 170 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation provides for investigative actions (seizure of property; examination; examination of corpse; exhumation; investigative experiment; seizure; inspection, seizure, and removal of copies from detained

postal and telegraph items, verification of testimony on the spot), in which witnesses may not be involved, provided that technical means are used to record the progress and results of the investigative action. Audio or video recordings made with the help of technical means have great potential information value and, if necessary, will help to recreate the pictures of the investigative action for the purpose of evaluation and use as evidence (Rossinsky, 2017). Among the positive aspects of the use of special technical means when conducting investigative actions, it should be noted that they will be able to record the features of objects the behavior of specific individuals most accurately and other factors that are difficult to reflect in the protocol (Bairov, 2018).

The idea of Kazakova A.V. that the introduced provisions, on the one hand, simplify the conduction of investigative actions, since there is no need to "search" for witnesses, is of interest. On the other hand, instead of witnesses, a specialist is involved who makes a record, which is attached to the protocol, and this complicates the procedure (Kazakova, 2017). We do not agree that these norms somehow complicate the investigation. In practice, we got out of this situation as follows: an expert of the forensic service is involved as a specialist. Firstly, the expert has a sufficient level of knowledge in the technical field, and secondly, he performs his duties on a reimbursable basis, which simplifies the procedure. An expert is warned about criminal liability and there are no technical hitches, the disc is attached to the criminal case and in cases of suspicion of the court, it can be subjected to examination in another expert institution. The success of solution and investigation of crimes depends on the effectiveness of the use and application of special knowledge by an expert and a specialist. (Svetlichny, 2015). Thus, all the necessary guarantees are met. While the witnesses are random people who are not always ready to sacrifice their personal time while performing a civic duty. Secondly, there are situations where it is important that the witnesses are psychologically stable. It is also impossible to exclude the human factor, a person who for the first time finds himself in a situation unfamiliar to him cannot help but share his experiences with loved ones, violating the mystery of the investigation. The institute of witnesses should be abolished long ago, there are many modern innovative ways to record investigative actions. The success of solution and investigation of crimes depends on the effectiveness of the use and application of special knowledge, in

accordance with the current legislation, by knowledgeable persons - an expert and a specialist (Svetlichny, 2015). The only thing that raises doubts, here we unequivocally agree with the opinion of A.R. Belkin, is the provision of Article 170 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation stating: "If the use of technical means is impossible during the investigative action, then an investigator makes an appropriate entry in the protocol." With this clarification, A.R. Belkin called an investigator's obligation to use technical means as "pure fiction." (Belkin, 2013). The use of technical means should be mandatory. Modern equipment allows you to record the situation or information better than the investigator in his description (Stelmakh, 2016). Part 6 of Article 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation allows "when conducting investigative actions to use technical means and methods of detecting, fixing and removing traces of crime and material evidence" (8), but practitioners are in no hurry to move away from the usual, proven legal proceedings. P.S. Pastukhov proposes to completely abandon paper recording of investigative actions and use only records of progress and results made with the help of special equipment. (Pastukhov, 2015.) It seems that this will happen in the near future, but the modern criminal process is not ready for this. However, since 2019, artificial intelligence, as a judge of the virtual court of the city of Beijing, has been considering certain categories of civil cases (Bertovsky, 2021).

It is difficult to overestimate the significance of the investigative action - the inspection of the scene of the incident, often not only the effectiveness of the investigation depends, but also the fate of the participants in the criminal process depends on it (Lyanguzova, 2018).

Among the information technologies used in the investigative action - inspection of the scene, it is necessary to note the global positioning technology (GLONASS, GPS), which allows you to determine the location of objects most accurately at the scene and near it. Technical means not only facilitate the achievement of the truth in the case, but also ensure the collection of evidence, without violations of human rights and freedoms. We need to move away from bureaucracy and paper media and use modern technology for storing information.

Special software “MSR-TV” allows you to receive forensic photographs with text, graphic or audio commentary, which are attached to the protocol of the inspection of the scene in the form

of a photo table. A camera with GPS module is designed to geocode the results of shooting at the scene. In situations where conducting an inspection may pose a threat to the life and health of participants, it becomes necessary to use unmanned aerial vehicles. (Elteko & Sidorkevich, 2021).

Despite the gradual introduction of innovations, according to the results of interviewing practitioners cited in the study by E.G. Kravets, "the work of an investigator is provided by less than 20% with computer equipment and video recording tools; only 18.3% of the total number of respondents noted the presence of modern video equipment in their units and only 4.4% of the interrogated investigators regularly practice video recording of investigative actions." These values show the colossal lag of the criminal process and the technical one. In addition to the conservatism of the Russian criminal process, which has long needed changes, the factors influencing the lag are outdated professional training of investigators, low qualifications in the field of information technology. (Kravets, 2016)

As a solution to this problem, we can propose the creation of innovative professional programs at the junction of two specialties of legal and technical areas. (Bertovsky, 2017).

Currently, an information and analytical system for ensuring the activities (ISOD) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia has been created, which united most of the divisions, a system of electronic passports of a criminal case has been experimentally introduced, provided for the possibility of entering scanned and other copies of procedural documents on criminal cases and materials of checks of reports of crimes into the electronic database.

If the investigative actions are carried out using information and technical achievements, in addition to a positive impact on the observance of the rights of participants, the problem of the cumbersomeness of criminal cases is noted. Numerous disks are submitted to the court as attachments to criminal cases. Information storage devices. The absence of bureaucracy and transparency of the criminal process can be ensured by creating a single database of criminal cases on the blockchain principle. Blockchain is a distributed database with no storage devices connected to a common server. The main principles of this technology for collecting and storing information are the transparency of operations, without change possibility by persons who do not have access (Bertovsky, 2017).

In 2016, the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation was supplemented with a number of provisions regulating the execution of procedural actions by printing, electronic or other means (Article 474 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation). But the procedure for using electronic documents in criminal proceedings, regulated by Article 474.1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation concerns only judicial proceedings. It is necessary to make the preliminary investigation accessible – it is not so difficult to create official websites of the preliminary investigation bodies in the information and telecommunication network "Internet". A petition, application, complaint may be filed in the form of an electronic document signed by a person with an electronic signature. At the request of the participants, it is possible to conduct a preliminary investigation in a face-to- face and remote format.

As an experiment, it is necessary to switch to this format in one of the regions of Russia, and then, considering the experience of the experiment, under the close supervision of the Commissioner for Human Rights and the court, introduce it everywhere. Undoubtedly, modern information technologies are able to ensure the invariability and authenticity of the original information, but only when providing protection against unauthorized access. Modernization of investigative actions depends on the development of criminal justice as a whole. How the system of investigative actions will develop depends on the legislator's choice of ways to improve criminal justice as a whole (Kushkhov, 2019). It is not easy to achieve digitalization of legal proceedings in practice, and in addition to staffing, it is necessary to develop such areas as: conducting scientific research in the field of infrastructure modernization and strengthening information security, with amendments