Article 171 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation was supplemented by part 1.1. It was done by the federal law of March 4, 2013 No. 23‑FZ. According to it witnesses participate in investigative actions at the investigator’s discretion. But the legislation did not specify what technical means should be used to perform the certification function and to verify the investigative actions results, carried out without the participation of witnesses. There is no uniform law enforcement practice on this issue: the technical means of verification include photo or video filming. According to the author, the photo filming does not fully provide the verification of investigative action and, accordingly, its results. In view of the aforesaid the article supports the idea that the participation of witnesses to certify the investigative actions can be replaced by the video recording (filming) in case certain rules are observed, in particular: the continuity of the video filming, simultaneous shooting of all participants in the investigative action, the material carrier of video film safety and the provision of measures to make its replacement (substitution) impossible.