ПОНЯТТЯ ТА ОЗНАКИ ВОЄННИХ ЗЛОЧИНІВ У МІЖНАРОДНОМУ КРИМІНАЛЬНОМУ ПРАВІ

Abstract

The article examines the norms of current international criminal law, from the standpoint of the lack of a conceptual definition of the concept of "war crimes", which, in turn, is a gap in international law. Considering war crimes from the current point of view, given the accumulated positive scientific achievements and law enforcement practice, it is reasonable to define them as gross violations of international humanitarian law committed during armed conflicts (international and non-international), entailing individual criminal responsibility for international right. It is clarified that war crimes are a type of crime against the peace and security of mankind, in connection with which they have common features for these crimes: increased degree of public danger; the orientation of such criminal acts on the interests protected by international law; their criminalization and punishment are carried out in accordance with international law. It is proved that war crimes are characterized by special (peculiar only to them) features: it can be committed only during an armed conflict; the object of encroachment is the procedure of armed conflict established by international law and the security interests of persons (individuals) protected by international law; gross nature of the violation; the consequences for the rights and interests protected by international humanitarian law; peculiarities of the subjective side - along with the features inherent in all crimes against peace and security of mankind, it is necessary for the perpetrator to be aware of the fact of armed conflict; the perpetrator of a war crime must be aware of the factual circumstances that indicate the protected status of persons - victims of the crime. Given these special features of war crimes, their detailed definition is proposed: socially dangerous, criminal acts committed during armed conflicts (international or non-international) that encroach on the established by international humanitarian law, the interests and security of defenders, and entail individual criminal liability in accordance with the rules of international criminal law.