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Vol. 43 (2023)
Special section

Implementation and Interpretation of the Definitions of International Crimes in the National Jurisdiction of Ukraine

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  • Andriy Kosylo,
  • Anastasiia Dmytriv
Andriy Kosylo
Institute of Social Prevention and Resocialisation, University of Warsaw, Poland
Anastasiia Dmytriv
Institute of Social Prevention and Resocialisation, University of Warsaw, Poland

Published 2024-06-25

Keywords

  • crime of aggression,
  • international crimes,
  • Ukrainian law,
  • universal jurisdiction,
  • war crimes

How to Cite

Implementation and Interpretation of the Definitions of International Crimes in the National Jurisdiction of Ukraine. (2024). Polish Yearbook of International Law, 43, 353–365. https://doi.org/10.24425/pyil.2024.152307

Abstract

The article consists of two parts, the first of which discusses the problems associated with implementing the provisions of international law in the Ukrainian legal system regarding the understanding of the concept of “international crimes”. It underscores that the different definitions are due to the fact that Ukraine is not a party to the Rome Statute. However, it should be noted that most provisions of international law regarding international crimes regarding war crimes, the crime of aggression and the crime of genocide are part of the Ukrainian legal system. At the same time, there are no crimes against humanity in Ukrainian national criminal law. The second part addresses the issues regarding Ukrainian courts’ interpretation of the national criminal law and international treaties on international crimes: interpreting the provisions of United Nations acts and the Rome Statute, applying the principle of “nullum crimen sine lege”in the context of prosecuting the crime of Holodomor, interpreting the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights in connection with the use of trial in absentia in the case of Russian war criminals and interpreting provisions regarding universal jurisdiction in Ukrainian law.

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