[en] The paper presents the analysis of potential possibility of the application of mercuric iodide (HgI₂) as material for gamma and X-ray radiation detectors. The basic parameters of HgI₂ detectors and physical and technological processes influencing these parameters are described. It has been shown, that HgI₂ detectors are able to work at room temperatures as spectrometers of X-rays and soft gamma radiation. At room temperature the HgI₂ detectors with active surface of a few mm² offer energy resolution ΔE <=400 eV and ΔE <=1.6 keV for 5.9 keV and 60 keV energy photons, respectively. Future progress in the development of HgI₂ detectors is mainly limited by progress in technology of the growth of HgI₂ crystals. Recently introduced temperature gradient oscillation method (TOM) which is generally used for the growth of HgI₂ crystals is not able to provide the desired and uniform all over the crystal volume parameters for transport of holes and electrons. In the future, after overcoming of above-mentioned difficulties the HgI₂ detectors will be attractive for a wide range of applications as room temperature spectrometers for X-rays and soft gamma radiation. (author)