This article examines the impact of legal technical flaws on the implementation of criminal law principles. Based on an analysis of the provisions of the Russian Criminal Code, the author demonstrates how rulemaking errors – excessive evaluative concepts, blanket provisions, unjustified privileges for certain subjects, and disproportionate sanctions – determine violations of the principles of legality, equality, guilt, justice, and humanism. The need for systemic optimization of criminal law to ensure compliance with criminal law principles is argued.