The panel will address contemporary challenges facing criminal justice in the context of the armed aggression against Ukraine and explore an effective model for coordination among Ukrainian and foreign judicial and law enforcement authorities, as well as international judicial bodies. Its relevance stems from the scale of international crimes, the significant number of parallel investigations, the fragmented nature of the information and materials collected, and the need to transform them into admissible and verifiable evidence capable of establishing individual criminal responsibility.

The main objective of the panel is to identify practical approaches to coordinating the activities of national authorities, foreign judicial and law enforcement bodies, and international institutions without seeking to unify their procedural systems. Participants will discuss the practice of the International Criminal Court and national courts, the role of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, the application of universal jurisdiction, international cooperation, and the coordination of parallel investigations and prosecutions.

A separate part of the discussion will focus on the modernisation of criminal procedure in response to the systemic and transnational nature of international crimes. It will address contextual and structural investigations; the collection, documentation, verification, preservation, transfer and subsequent use of evidence, including digital evidence; and the need to ensure the authenticity and integrity of evidence, establish the lawfulness of its collection, and preserve a proper chain of custody. Particular attention will be paid to compatible digital standards, the transparency of methods used to search and process large datasets, the verifiability of results produced through the use of artificial intelligence, the timely disclosure of materials, and the defence’s right to examine evidence and challenge its admissibility and reliability, as well as the lawfulness of the manner in which it was obtained.

An important part of the panel will concern the protection of victims and witnesses, the prevention of repeated interviews and re-traumatisation, their participation in proceedings, and their effective access to justice. The discussion will also address national and international compensation mechanisms for harm caused by the aggression against Ukraine and their relationship with criminal prosecution and the protection of victims’ rights. Avoiding repeated interviews as a means of preventing re-victimisation is also reflected in Eurojust’s official description of its work with evidence relating to core international crimes.

The panel is expected to produce a shared vision for the further development of criminal justice in cases involving international crimes, together with conclusions and recommendations aimed at improving the coordination of investigations and prosecutions, the quality of evidence collection, preservation and use, the effectiveness of procedural safeguards, and the protection of victims’ rights.