Slovo of the National School of Judges of Ukraine. №1(54) 2026. P.72-84

ISSN: 2707-6849   

UDC341.4:341.64:347.962

DOI https://doi.org/10.37566/2707-6849-2026-1(54)-7

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Viktor BAZOV,

Doctor of Law, Professor, Professor of the Department of International Law and Comparative Law, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

ORCID ID: https//orcid.org/0000-0002-7065-008Х

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Yasin DERE,

PhD Student, V.M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1351-5838

dere.yasin06@gmail.com

International Legal Principles of the Formation of the Judicial Corps of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine

      Abstract 

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the international legal framework governing the formation of the judicial corps of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. Following the execution of the Agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe on June 25, 2025, the institutional and procedural aspects of its Statute require profound doctrinal assessment. The research aims to examine the qualification requirements for judicial candidates, the institutional selection mechanism, the organizational structure of the chambers, and the guarantees of judicial independence. The author emphasizes that the Statute establishes exceptionally high qualification criteria, integrating strict moral standards with the mandatory requirement of practical experience in criminal proceedings and extensive expertise in international law. A fundamental institutional safeguard against politicization is the imperative prohibition against two nationals of the same state serving concurrently. The study analyzes the multi-stage selection procedure: candidates are subject to mandatory evaluation and recommendation by the Independent Advisory Group prior to the final appointment via a secret ballot by the Steering Committee. This procedural framework ensures international legitimacy for the fifteen judges elected to the list for a non-renewable nine-year term. Furthermore, the article explores the Tribunal's structural division into Pre-Trial, Trial, and Appeals Chambers, highlighting the strict statutory prohibition against judges exercising concurrent jurisdiction across different chambers within the same case. Special attention is devoted to the procedural modality of selecting judges from a pre-approved roster. Under this functional model, judges do not receive continuous remuneration solely for their inclusion in the list and are authorized to perform judicial functions remotely until formally activated by the President. In conclusion, it is substantiated that the statutory architecture governing the formation of the judicial corps incorporates the most effective practices of international criminal justice, establishing a robust institutional foundation for the independent, impartial, and effective prosecution of individuals bearing the highest responsibility for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Keywords: Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, ad hoc court, Steering Committee, judicial corps, judicial independence, international criminal justice.

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SuggestedCitation: Bazov, V., Dere, Y. (2026) International Legal Principles of the Formation of the Judicial Corps of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine. Slovo National School of Judges of Ukraine, 1 (54), 72–84. https://doi.org/10.37566/2707-6849-2026-1(54)-7

Date of first submission of the article to the publication: 28.03.2026

Date of acceptance of the article for publication after review: 13.04.2026

Date of publication (publication): 22.04.2026