National legislation as a source of transnational criminal law

Abstract

The article covers the topic of national legislation as a source (form) of transnational criminal law. International criminal law doctrine has examined different aspects of legal sources many times, but development and establishment of transnational criminal law creates a necessity of research with a view to substantiating the concept of transnational criminal law and researching the empiric basis: international legal act and legislatures of different states.
 Author finds that the systems of legal sources are in a state of constant development and reassessment, which does not change the fact that domestic legislation always takes its place in such systems. The author analyzes the positions of domestic and foreign scientists on the recognition of national legislation as a source of international criminal law. The place of national legislation in the system of sources of transnational criminal law its ancillary character are determined.
 The author substantiates the position of recognition of national legislation as a source of transnational criminal law in view of the important conceptual feature of this sub-branch of law, which is manifested in the interaction of transnational (international) and domestic (national) criminal law. Transnational criminal law as part of international criminal law is part of the system of international law, is based on its principles and closely linked to national criminal law.
 The article notes that every national or international legal system contains a specific system of legal sources, determined within its demands which allows to distinguish the peculiarities of each separate system. National legislation holds a special place in any of such system of sources of international criminal law and belongs to the group of auxiliary sources. It is emphasized that national legislation does not directly regulate international relations, but does affect transnational criminal law in various ways, in particular by criminalizing transnational crimes and penalizing them; according to the rules of national law, criminal prosecution of criminals and implementation of norms in accordance with the jurisdiction defined in the national legislation, etc., takes place.