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Prosecuting the Russian Aggression – Assessing Proposals to Enable the Prosecution of Russian Leaders for the Crime of Aggression

Peterson, Hampus LU (2023) JURM02 20231
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought immense suffering to the Ukrainian people and has destabilised the European security order. In response, world leaders and international organisations have called for the prosecution of the Russian aggression. However, the scholarly debate on the appropriate measures to ensure criminal accountability for the crime of aggression has demonstrated widespread disagreement among scholars. The present thesis aims to take a first step towards a more structured and constructive discussion – adopting a goal-oriented approach to international criminal trials.

The thesis lays the foundation for a model to assess different proposals to enable the prosecution of Russian leaders for the crime of aggression.... (More)
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought immense suffering to the Ukrainian people and has destabilised the European security order. In response, world leaders and international organisations have called for the prosecution of the Russian aggression. However, the scholarly debate on the appropriate measures to ensure criminal accountability for the crime of aggression has demonstrated widespread disagreement among scholars. The present thesis aims to take a first step towards a more structured and constructive discussion – adopting a goal-oriented approach to international criminal trials.

The thesis lays the foundation for a model to assess different proposals to enable the prosecution of Russian leaders for the crime of aggression. The choice of appropriate criteria for the assessment model is made through the lens of legality and legitimacy. The concepts of internationalisation, fair trial standards, and non-selectivity are examined closely to develop indicators of the criteria. Three different proposals are thereafter assessed: (1) amending the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, (2) a Special Tribunal established through the UN system, and (3) a treaty-based Special Tribunal.

The model does not deal with practical and political obstacles to the prosecution of Russian leaders. Ultimately, it is up to skilled politicians and diplomats to create enough political momentum to ensure criminal accountability. However, the results show that a goal-oriented approach offers a valuable perspective when deciding between different paths towards criminal accountability in the present situation. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Den ryska invasionen av Ukraina har orsakat ofattbart mänskligt lidande och har destabiliserat den europeiska säkerhetsordningen. I gengäld har världsledare och internationella organisationer krävt att den ryska aggressionen beivras. Den rättsvetenskapliga debatten om lämpliga åtgärder för att säkerställa straffrättsligt ansvar för aggressionsbrottet har emellertid uppvisat stor oenighet bland forskare. Detta examensarbete syftar till att ta ett första steg mot en mer strukturerad och konstruktiv diskussion genom att tillämpa ett målorienterat perspektiv på internationella brottmålsrättegångar.

Examensarbetet lägger grunden för en modell avsedd att bedöma olika förslag för att möjliggöra lagföring av de ryska ledarna för... (More)
Den ryska invasionen av Ukraina har orsakat ofattbart mänskligt lidande och har destabiliserat den europeiska säkerhetsordningen. I gengäld har världsledare och internationella organisationer krävt att den ryska aggressionen beivras. Den rättsvetenskapliga debatten om lämpliga åtgärder för att säkerställa straffrättsligt ansvar för aggressionsbrottet har emellertid uppvisat stor oenighet bland forskare. Detta examensarbete syftar till att ta ett första steg mot en mer strukturerad och konstruktiv diskussion genom att tillämpa ett målorienterat perspektiv på internationella brottmålsrättegångar.

Examensarbetet lägger grunden för en modell avsedd att bedöma olika förslag för att möjliggöra lagföring av de ryska ledarna för aggressionsbrott. Valet av lämpliga kriterier för bedömningsmodellen görs utifrån koncepten legalitet och legitimitet. Begreppen internationalisering, rättvis rättegång och icke-selektivitet granskas noggrant för att utveckla indikatorer för kriterierna. Därefter bedöms tre olika förslag: (1) ändring av Romstadgan för Internationella brottmålsdomstolen, (2) en särskild tribunal inrättad genom FN-systemet och (3) en traktatbaserad särskild tribunal.

Modellen tar inte upp praktiska och politiska hinder. I slutändan är det upp till skickliga politiker och diplomater att skapa tillräckligt med politiskt momentum för att säkerställa straffansvar. Resultaten visar emellertid att ett målorienterat förhållningssätt erbjuder ett värdefullt perspektiv när man ska välja mellan olika sätt att uppnå straffrättsligt ansvar i det aktuella fallet. (Less)
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author
Peterson, Hampus LU
supervisor
organization
course
JURM02 20231
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
public international law, international criminal law, criminal law, the crime of aggression, Russian aggression, war in Ukraine, goals of international criminal trials, goal-oriented approach, international court, fair trial, selectivity, immunities, criminal accountability
language
English
id
9114925
date added to LUP
2023-06-21 09:55:52
date last changed
2023-06-21 09:55:52
@misc{9114925,
  abstract     = {{The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought immense suffering to the Ukrainian people and has destabilised the European security order. In response, world leaders and international organisations have called for the prosecution of the Russian aggression. However, the scholarly debate on the appropriate measures to ensure criminal accountability for the crime of aggression has demonstrated widespread disagreement among scholars. The present thesis aims to take a first step towards a more structured and constructive discussion – adopting a goal-oriented approach to international criminal trials.

The thesis lays the foundation for a model to assess different proposals to enable the prosecution of Russian leaders for the crime of aggression. The choice of appropriate criteria for the assessment model is made through the lens of legality and legitimacy. The concepts of internationalisation, fair trial standards, and non-selectivity are examined closely to develop indicators of the criteria. Three different proposals are thereafter assessed: (1) amending the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, (2) a Special Tribunal established through the UN system, and (3) a treaty-based Special Tribunal.

The model does not deal with practical and political obstacles to the prosecution of Russian leaders. Ultimately, it is up to skilled politicians and diplomats to create enough political momentum to ensure criminal accountability. However, the results show that a goal-oriented approach offers a valuable perspective when deciding between different paths towards criminal accountability in the present situation.}},
  author       = {{Peterson, Hampus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Prosecuting the Russian Aggression – Assessing Proposals to Enable the Prosecution of Russian Leaders for the Crime of Aggression}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}