Assessing and Evaluating the General Legal Characteristics of War Crimes: A Basic Necessity or a Confused Platform

Keywords: War Crimes, Military Crimes, Criminal Offenses, Active Service, Criminal and Legal Features, Criminal and Legal Protection

Abstract

The general legal characteristics of war crimes allow to comprehensively study the indicated acts, to understand their essence, which in turn should facilitate and improve the quality of criminal qualification of criminal offenses against performing the established procedure of active service. The need to form general legal characteristics of war crimes is due to the fact that the sphere of public relations related to active service is intersectoral, since it is simultaneously regulated by the norms of various branches of law. The authors have found out the main features of war crimes and have carried out their characteristics by determining the specific features of their regulation both by criminal and other branches of law. The authors have provided an analytical basis for this in order to evaluate the provisions of regulatory legal acts regulating the procedure of active service and determine the main features of war crimes. The findings of the research was that war crimes infringe the statutory order of performing active service, and the subjects of such illegal acts are military personnel, persons liable to military duty and personnel with reserve obligations during the battle assembly. The general legal characteristics of war crimes is formed taking into account criminal and legal features of the specified criminal offenses and defines specific features of active service; the established procedure for performing active service; military personnel, persons liable to military duty and personnel with reserve obligations during the battle assembly as subjects of crime.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Hennadii Yevhenovych Bershov, Second Administrative Court of Appeal (Ukraine)

Ph.D. in Law. Judge of the Second Administrative Court of Appeal (Ukraine).

Oksana Anatolyevna Hrytenko, Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs (Dnipro, Ukraine)

Doctor of Law. Associate Professor. Professor of the Department of Criminal Law Disciplines of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Law and Innovative Education of the Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs (Dnipro, Ukraine).

Vadym Heorhiiovych Khashev, Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs (Dnipro, Ukraine)

Ph.D. Associate Professor. Associate Professor of the Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs (Dnipro, Ukraine).

Mykhailo Ihorevych Fialka, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs (Kharkiv, Ukraine)

Candidate of Law. Associate Professor. Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology of the Faculty No. 1 of the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs (Kharkiv, Ukraine).

References

Aaronson, E., & Shaffer, G. (2021). Defining Crimes in a Global Age: Criminalization as a Transnational Legal Process. Law & Social Inquiry, 46 (2), 455-486. Doi: 10.1017/lsi.2020.42
Akimov, М. (2018). Criminal Law Protection of Person’s Freedom: Problems and Solutions. Public Security and Public Order, 20, 9-18.
Akimov, M. (29-XI-2019). Regarding the Proper Criminal and Legal Assessment of Violations of the Laws and Customs of War. In Military Education and Science: Present Time and Future. Abstracts of the XV International Scientific and Practical Conference, pp. 5-9. Kyiv, Ukraine.
Andreu-Guzmán, F. (2005). Military Jurisdiction and International Law. International Jurisprudence and Doctrine on Human Rights [II]. International Commission of Jurists.
Aurel, S. (2015). The Status of Armed Forces in Public International Law. In A. Orakhelashvili (Ed.), Research Handbook on Jurisdiction and Immunities in International Law, 319-371. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Botvinov, R. (2017). Military Service of Ukraine as an Institute of Public Service. Public Administration and Local Government, 3 (34), 128-134.
Cheah, W. (2018a). Dealing with Desertion and Gaps in International Humanitarian Law: Changes of Allegiance in the Singapore War Crimes Trials. Asian Journal of International Law, 8 (2), 350-370. Doi: 10.1017/S2044251316000308
Cheah, W. (2018b). Desertion and Gaps in International Humanitarian Law: Dealing with Changes of Allegiance in the Singapore War Crimes Trials – Addendum. Asian Journal of International Law, 8 (2), 371-371. Doi: 10.1017/S2044251317000017
Chehtman, A. (2018). Revisionist Just War Theory and the Concept of War Crimes. Leiden Journal of International Law, 31 (1), 171-194. Doi: 10.1017/S0922156517000498
Dinstein, Y. (2016). War Crimes, Orders, Command Responsibility and Defenses. In Y. Dinstein, The Conduct of Hostilities Under the Law of International Armed Conflict, pp. 298-331. Cambridge University Press.
Fenrick, W. J. (1999). Should Crimes Against Humanity Replace War Crimes? Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 3 (37), 767-785.
Fenrick, W. J. (2015). Military Self-Interest in Accountability for Core International Crimes. International Review of the Red Cross, 97 (900), 1503-1506. Doi: 10.1017/S1816383116000278
Halvorson, А. (2010). Understanding the Military: The Institution, the Culture, and the People. Information for Behavioral Healthcare Specialists Working with Veterans and Service Members. Samhsa.
Jug, J. (2018). Liability for Damages and Reparation for Harm Caused by War Crimes. Zbornik Pravnog Fakulteta Sveučilišta u Rijeci, 39 (1), 601-628. Doi: https://doi.org/10.30925/zpfsr.39.1.20
Karpenko, M. I. (2019). War Crimes: Issues of Theory, Legislation and Practice. [Monograph. Under Gen. Ed. of V. K. Matviichuk]. HEI National Academy of Management.
Karytonov, S. O. (2019). Military Crimes: Meaning, System and Qualification Problems [Thesis for Doctor Degree]. Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Koval, V. (2021). Administrative and Legal Status of Servicemen in Ukraine under the Legal Regime of Martial Law [Dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy]. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Kulkina, Y. S. (2016). Comparative Characteristic of Military Crimes in Ukraine and Foreign Countries (by the Example of the Art. 414 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Forum Prava, 5, 103-109.
Kurtmollaiev, A. E., Kushnir, M. V., & Koropatnik, I. M. (2017). The Legal Adjusting of Passing of Military Service is in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a Special Period. Juridical Scientific and Electronic Journal, 4, 87-89.
Kurys, V. Z. (29-XI-2019). Legal Guaranteeing of Military Formations in Ukraine. In Military Education and Science: Present Time and Future. Abstracts of the XV International Scientific and Practical Conference, pp. 38-42. Kyiv, Ukraine.
Kushnir, M. V. (2018). Theoretical and Legal Principles of Administration of Active Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Law and Society, 3 (2), 133-140.
Kuznetsov, V. V. (2015). Criminal Law Protection: Problem Definition. Uzhhorod National University Herald. Series: Law, 30 (2), 107-110.
Lutsiv, M. Z. (2020). The Specificity of the Pre-Trial Investigation of Crimes Against the Established Order of Military Service (Articles 407-409 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). PHD, National Law University.
Marchesi, D. (2021). The War Crimes of Denying Judicial Guarantees and the Uncertainties Surrounding Their Material Elements. Israel Law Review, 54 (2), 174-204. Doi: 10.1017/S0021223721000030
Matviichuk, V. (2008). Criminal and Legal Protection of the Environment: Problems of Legislation, Theory and Practice [Thesis of the Doctor’s Dissertation]. V. M. Koretsky National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Nikolaienko, T. B. (2019). Theoretical and Legal Principles of Infliction and Execution of the Special Punishments to Servicemen [Thesis on Gaining Scientific Degree of the Doctor of Juridical Science]. State Research Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine; University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, Irpin, Ukraine.
Onyskiv, A. (2016). The Composition Ratio of Crimes Against Military Service Order with Other Corpus Delicti. Journal of the National Prosecution Academy of Ukraine, 4, 72-78.
Pashchenko, Y. M. (2021). Criminological Features and Prevention of Violent Crime Among Servicemen [Thesis Doctor of Philosophy]. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Piddubna, M. (2020). Implementation of International Criminal Law Norms on Military Offences into Criminal Code of Ukraine [Thesis for a Candidate Degree in Law]. Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, V. M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Ross, A. (1975). On Guilt, Responsibility and Punishment. Stevens & Sons Limited.
Sadova, T. S. (2021). On the Question of the Relationship of War and Military Crimes in International and National Law. Constitutional State, 42, 220-228. Doi: https://doi.org/10.18524/2411–2054.2021.42.232433
Saynetskyy, O. (2013). The Essence and Characteristics of Military Service. Public Law, 3 (11), 210-216.
Shakhrai, B. M. (29-XI-2019). The Role of Judicial Agencies in Guaranteeing the Rights and Freedoms of Military Personnel and Keeping Public Order in the Armed Forces and Other Military Formations of Ukraine. In Military Education and Science: Present Time and Future. Abstracts of the XV International Scientific and Practical Conference, pp. 87-91. Kyiv, Ukraine.
Sheshko, S. V. (29-XI-2019). Legal Principles for Functioning of National Security and Defense Sector. In Military Education and Science: Present Time and Future. Abstracts of the XV International Scientific and Practical Conference, pp. 91-96. Kyiv, Ukraine.
Sokurenko, V. V. (2016). Public Administration of the Defense Sphere in Ukraine [Thesis for a Doctoral Degree]. Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Tereshchuk, V. M. (29-XI-2019). Problems of Improving the Legal Status of the Subjects of Public Administration of the National Security and Defense Sector of Ukraine. In Military Education and Science: Present Time and Future. Abstracts of the XV International Scientific and Practical Conference, pp. 80-82. Kyiv, Ukraine.
Ukraine (1992). On General Military Duty and Military Service, Law of Ukraine of 25 March 1992, No. 2232-ХІІ. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Ukraine (1996). Constitution of Ukraine, Law of Ukraine of 28 June 1996, No. 254k/96-VR. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Ukraine (1999). On Disciplinary Regulations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Law of Ukraine of 24 March 1999, No. 551-ХIV. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Ukraine (2001). Criminal Code of Ukraine, Law of Ukraine of 5 April 2001, No. 2341-ІІІ. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Ukraine (2008). On Regulations About Active Service of Citizens of Ukraine in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Decree of the President of Ukraine of 10 December 2008, No. 1153/2008. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
United Nations (s/d). Definitions. War Crimes. Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect. https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/war-crimes.shtml
U.S. Department of Defense News (20-XII-2019). Trump Signs Law Establishing U.S. Space Force. U. S. Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2046035/trump-signs-law-establishing-us-space-force/
Voznyk, M. V. (29-XI-2019). Certain Aspects of Improving Military Law of Ukraine. In Military Education and Science: Present Time and Future. Abstracts of the XV International Scientific and Practical Conference, pp. 9-12. Kyiv, Ukraine.
Yaremko, G., Ivanova, N., Mandrychenko, Z., & Gorpyniuk, O. (2021). Criminal and Legal Protection of National Security: Problems of Systematization of Crimes. Amazonia Investiga, 10 (47), 207-215. Doi: https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2021.47.11.21
Zhurovets, V. (29-XI-2019). Legal Guaranteeing of Military Discipline and Public Order. In Military Education and Science: Present Time and Future. Abstracts of the XV International Scientific and Practical Conference, pp. 22-27. Kyiv, Ukraine.
Published
2022-02-21
How to Cite
Bershov, H., Hrytenko, O., Khashev, V., & Fialka, M. (2022). Assessing and Evaluating the General Legal Characteristics of War Crimes: A Basic Necessity or a Confused Platform. Ius Humani. Law Journal, 11(1), 43-60. https://doi.org/10.31207/ih.v11i1.295