The platform of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has become one of the priority formats of modern international cooperation in the field of forensic science. This is due to the role of forensic expertise in the detection and investigation of crimes of terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as in other areas that require the application of specialized knowledge. The stepping up of cooperation between forensic science organizations has been taking place in response to the decision of the Meeting of the Ministers of Justice of SCO member states to establish an expert working group on forensic practices. The plan is to implement a whole range of measures within the functional framework of the group to consolidate the capabilities of forensic science in SCO member states, as a way of improving the quality of forensic services and reducing turnaround times. As part of an ongoing effort to harmonize methodological approaches to the tasks facing the working group, the article analyzes the legislation of a number of states participating in SCO activities. The issues of retraining and professional development of experts, as well as the training of research personnel constitute a separate area of cooperation. It is proposed to consider the Forensic Science Department of the Law Institute of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia as an organizational and technical platform for educational cooperation among member states, observer states, and SCO dialogue partners on the issues of in-service professional development of forensic personnel.

The paper examines the background for the establishment of forensic investigation of intellectual property as a new area of forensic practice in the system of forensic science organizations of the Russian Ministry of Justice. It defines the subject of investigation, formulates generic forensic objectives and outlines a sample list of questions addressed by the intellectual property expert.

The activity-based systems approach has been gaining in importance as a method of scientific inquiry, with its methodological orientation towards the study of objective reality in its relationship with our understanding of the nature, structure and genesis of various forms of activity. «Activity» is a central concept of this approach that reflects the multidimensional and multilayered nature of social existence. The scientific use of this concept has its roots in philosophical tradition. «Activity» is one of the more important categories in the system of forensic knowledge. Human activity is the key object of theoretical, applied and translational research in forensic science. This includes criminal activity as the object of inquiry, on the one hand, and forensic activity as the object of management and optimization, on the other hand.

The author reflects on whether validity can be considered both a principle of law and a functional principle of forensic expert activity. Disclosing the methodological significance of validity, which is yet to be fully and consistently incorporated in the procedural law, the author concludes that validity is understood and applied by the Russian justice and expert community precisely as a principle of law, an imperative indicator of the quality of forensic science for all its procedural forms in the legal process.

The ever-increasing need for land survey expertise in judicial proceedings, as well as the complexity of this branch of forensic practice require a special approach to the interpretation of theoretical foundations of forensic land surveying, which led to the author's attempt to define its basic theoretical concepts. The article also considers and describes the most common tasks performed by forensic land survey practitioners in land dispute cases. 

Current problems in professional training of forensic scientists are examined. Improvements to the didactic process are proposed in several areas, including the unification of the conceptual framework of integrated forensic investigation, and prevention of expert errors.

Fires and explosions of petroleum products vapors triggered by static electricity discharges are not uncommon during various technological operations. Investigation of their role in accidents is one of the more labor intensive and complicated forensic tasks. The purpose of this work is to provide forensic experts with general information on electrostatic charging mechanisms in liquids and solids, as well as on production operations with petroleum products where static electricity may occur, leading to the ignition of their vapors.

The paper examines the rationale for continuous improvement of forensic engineering and real estate valuation, in particular, via adaptation of various advances in science and information technology for the purposes of the judicial process. Universal computerization has manifested itself in two key areas: automation of forensic workflow and information support of the expert. The author describes software systems most commonly used in forensic operations. Staff surveys from regional laboratories have yielded a list of key challenges facing forensic practitioners in terms of information support of their work, which are presented in the paper along with possible solutions.

This work is part of a series of efforts towards validation of methods used in forensic fiber analysis. These efforts address current needs for accreditation of forensic laboratories and quality control in operations.

The qualitative testing methodology consists of obtaining absorption spectra with the microscope spectrophotometer MSFU-K and comparing the spectral characteristics of color in fiber samples. The expert determines whether the textile fibers submitted for analysis match in color or not, depending on the results of spectral comparison.

The proposed validation experiment algorithm is designed for evaluating uncertainty in optical density measurements and the level of expert competence.

In this case uncertainty corresponds to reproducibility standard deviation. To evaluate uncertainty, two operators took readings of absorption spectra of dyed fibers independently in the course of three days, and measured optical density at maximum and minimum absorption wavelengths. To evaluate repeatability, 5 spectra were obtained in a row on each of the three days.

The testing was conducted using three samples of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. Key characteristic points in the samples’ absorption spectra covered a wide range of wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Measurements were taken using the MSFU-K microspectrophotometer, which consists of a microscope with a spectrophotometric add-on unit.

Statistical analysis of measurement data demonstrated uncertainty levels between 7,1 % and 22,1 %. Uncertainty values below 30 % are indicative of quantitative measurements and insignificant variance of optical density values, which corresponds to high reproducibility of spectra and allows the expert to make statistically reliable match/non-match conclusions on the color of compared fibers.

Expert competence was assessed based on «blind» test results. The experts had to determine which of the three samples were colored with the same dye. Each of the two experts was provided with 3 visually identical samples that were colored with different dyes. The experts were asked to distinguish between fibers treated with the same dye. When analyzing obtained spectra, both experts correctly identified same-color fibers based on matching color spectral characteristics.

Positive validation results suggest that the MSFU-K microscope spectrophotometer can be successfully used in forensic fiber analysis for measuring the color of dyed fibers. 

A unified methodological approach is critical to obtaining objective and scientifically sound results in forensic practice. Such an approach ensures that different practitioners working with the same physical evidence will obtain comparable results. This, in turn, guarantees that the most important principles of forensic science are upheld, namely, that examinations are conducted objectively, comprehensively and exhaustively, with the possibility of further verification of reliability and validity of the expert’s conclusions.

In this regard, standardization and harmonization of scientific methodologies supporting forensic operations are the cornerstone of the reform of the modern institution of forensic science in the Russian Federation, as well as an integral part of the judicial reform. The current state of methodological support in the system of state and non-state forensic science organizations in Russia is analyzed. The author presents the case for mandatory certification of forensic methods and proposes a range of measures to advance the harmonization of forensic methodologies in forensic practice. 

The paper reports on the results of biological examination of downy shawls conducted to identify counterfeit items branded as Orenburg Downy Shawls. Analysis was based on morphological comparison of downy hairs from questioned shawls with known authentic samples of downy hairs from goats of the Orenburg breed.

The paper presents the results of a pilot molecular genetic study of sweat and oil residue left by the fingertips and hand palms of male volunteers (donors) on various regions of the skin surface of dead bodies (recipients) of both sexes. In cases of contact with female recipients donor-specific allele combinations were obtained for only 11.6% of autosomal loci and 12.9% of Y-chromosomal loci. Donor-specific traits were absent in 68.4% of autosomal loci and 87.1% of Y-chromosomal loci. In cases of contact with male recipients the full genetic profile was obtained for 18.6% of autosomal loci, and 64.2% of loci showed a lack of donor-specific alleles. Meanwhile, allelic combinations specific to female recipients were encountered in 40.5% of autosomal loci, and to male recipients – in 34.2% of autosomal loci. Results demonstrate poor adhesion of sweat and oil compounds from donors’ hands to the corpses’ skin, probably due to significant temperature differences between contact surfaces. 

The paper examines the issues of developing relevant and adequate methods to address the practical challenges of supporting the justice system with objective scientific evidence. Special emphasis is placed on the problem of ambiguity of the concept of «original» state of the environment prior to the investigated event and the choice of practical approaches to rehabilitation of damaged ecosystems.

The paper offers observations, argumentation and recommendations regarding payment for expert services rendered by public forensic science organizations of the Russian Ministry of Justice in the course of civil litigation. Examples of casework involving experts from the Yaroslavl Forensic Science Laboratory provide justification of associated court costs and elaborate on compensation practices regulated by federal legislation. The authors introduce the concept of «security for litigation expenses».

This section presents translated abstracts of selected papers that appeared in the following periodicals: Forensic Science International, volumes 262–264, 266, 269 (2016) and volumes 277– 279 (2017), Elsevier Ireland Ltd. (Netherlands) [journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/forsciint] and Journal of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners, volume 19, number 2 (2016), American Society of Questioned Document Examiners Inc. (USA), [contents lists available online at: www.asqde.org/journal/journal.html].

The paper presents the outcomes of the International Interdepartmental Science and Practice Seminar «Current Issues in Continuing Professional Education in Forensic Science» hosted by the Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Russian Ministry of Justice in Moscow on May 22–23, 2018.