International Experience in the Criminal-Law Protection of State Security and the Conduct of Criminal Proceedings in the Absence of the Accused
31 July 2026, 15:00
The Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has prepared an informational reference examining international and European legal standards for the protection of state security. It considers approaches to safeguarding state sovereignty, territorial integrity and the constitutional order, as well as the legal limits on restricting human rights in the interests of public security.
Particular attention is given to the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the rules of international humanitarian law. The reference examines the criminalisation of international crimes, the application of the principle of complementarity and the legal limits on the use of force during armed conflict in accordance with the principles of proportionality, military necessity and humanity.
The informational reference also analyses international standards governing criminal proceedings conducted in the absence of the accused. It identifies the principal procedural safeguards applicable to such proceedings, including proper notification of the accused, protection of the right to a defence, mandatory participation of defence counsel and the possibility of reviewing the judgment. It also assesses whether Ukrainian legislation complies with the relevant international standards.
The full text of the informational reference is available at:
