The essence and subject matter of fiction in the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely fiction in the legislative structure of exemption from criminal responsibility in connection with the expiry of limitations period are analyzed in the article. The analysis of normative-legal acts, scholars’ views on the problem of fictitious norms is carried out. In particular, the author provides a description and analyzes the legislative structure of exemption from criminal responsibility in connection with the expiry of limitations period in the Criminal Codes of such foreign countries as: Poland, France, Germany.

Based on the positive foreign experience, it is proposed to amend Article 49 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine with a new part 7 as follows: “The limitations period starts to be calculated from the moment of expiration. If the consequence that is a part of the act occurs later, the limitations period begins from this point”.

It is mentioned that the exemption from criminal responsibility is an independent criminal and legal institution. However, its legal quintessence has the following features: since the de jure exemption does not result in the conviction of a person who has committed a criminal offense, such a person avoids the adverse criminal consequences that this person has as a result of the conviction.

It is clarified that the essence of the legislative structure of exemption from criminal responsibility in connection with the expiry of limitations period has a controversial nature in the science of Ukraine’s criminal law. The view according to which the basis of existence in criminal law of institute of prescription is loss of public danger of the committed act remains actual.

It is concluded that the fiction in the legislative structure of exemption from criminal responsibility in connection with the expiry of limitations period is expressed in the limitation of time limits of criminal responsibility with the law on criminal responsibility. The Criminal Code of Ukraine denies the criminal and legal significance of the committed act and its consequences outside the time limits of criminal responsibility. This lack of correspondence between the real facts and their legal consolidation is a fiction of the institution of prescription.

Key words: expiry of limitations period, fiction, exemption from criminal responsibility, legislator, criminal offense.

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