Justice for war crimes in Ukraine: In search of an optimal model

Abstract

The article is devoted to the investigation of the problems of finding and applying the optimal mechanism for bringing to international criminal responsibility persons guilty of committing war crimes on the territory of Ukraine. During the research a set of methods of scientific knowledge was used. Among them: dialectical and formal logic, analysis, abstraction, historical, comparative, system-structural and modeling methods. The investigated problem is considered through Ukraine's obligation to ensure compliance with the right to a fair trial for persons accused of committing war crimes. The paper provides current statistics on the number of war crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine in 2022 and, furthermore, provides their classification in accordance with the provisions of the Statute of the International Criminal Court. The known historical models of international criminal justice are highlighted, their general features and differences are given. The shortcomings of the model of judicial procedure for war crimes chosen by the Government of Ukraine are highlighted. As a result, the author's model of international criminal justice is proposed in accordance with the specifics of the situation in Ukraine.