The sentencing specifics of the courts in the Lugansk People’s Republic during the special military operation

Abstract

This article highlights the historical aspects of integrating the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) into the Russian Federation. The authors consider the specifics of the application of Russian criminal law by the courts of the LPR during its integration into the Russian legal system. The mechanism is shown which provides a unique punishment for the defendants who participated in special military operation for protecting the civilian population of Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics that is realized by giving suspended sentences. The article reveals the specifics of the courts acknowledging the defendant’s participation in a special military operation as a mitigating circumstance. The current practice of imposing punishment upon those who committed crimes before the day of LPR’s incorporation into the RF is examined. The issues of the formation of judicial practice of applying the norms of criminal and international law when dealing cases of crimes against civilians of the LPR were examined. The results show that the courts reasonably equally apply the provisions of the criminal law of LPR if it does not worsen the status of the convicted persons.