Movchan R. Criminal liability for interfering with the lawful activities of the armed forces of Ukraine and other military formations (art. 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine): problems of current court practice and improvement of legislation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33098/2078-6670.2025.19.31.369-387

Purpose. Critical reflection on the current practice of applying Art. 114-1 of the Criminal Code, as a result of which existing problems in the area under consideration should be identified, as well as scientifically substantiated recommendations aimed at their elimination should be developed both for improving the relevant provisions of the current Criminal Code and for implementing the latter in the practical activities of judicial and law enforcement bodies. To achieve the declared goal, an appropriate methodology was chosen, in particular, philosophical, general scientific and specific scientific methods were used. The results of writing the article proved that the main determinants of the emergence of numerous errors that accompany the modern practice of applying Art. 114-1 of the Criminal Code were, on the one hand, the use in this norm of an unjustifiably broad and unspecified concept of “obstruction”, and, on the other hand, the absence in criminal legislation of special casual norms devoted to the regulation of liability for various manifestations of obstruction of mobilization, as well as for individual encroachments on/against servicemen. The identified problem is proposed to be solved in the following way, firstly, by excluding or editing the current Art. 114-1 of the Criminal Code, which should result in its disposition, instead of the abstract concept of “obstruction”, providing a specific list of actions punishable under this norm, and secondly, by simultaneously supplementing the current criminal legislation with special norms designed to guarantee proper criminal-legal protection of the lawful activities of military personnel. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that new recommendations have been developed regarding the qualification and proposals for improving individual provisions of the Criminal Code devoted to the regulation of liability for obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Practical significance. The formulated conclusions can be used in normative, law enforcement and scientific activities.

Key words: obstruction, dissemination of information, national security, provision of conscription and mobilization, evasion of mobilization, illegal crossing of the state border, undue advantage, special period / martial law, production, sale, use of forged documents, complicity, insult to honor and dignity, resistance, intervention, destruction / damage to property, causing bodily harm.

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