“Pravova derzhava”. Issue 37 (2026), pages 604–613.
DOI: 10.33663/0869-2491-2026-37-604-613
Landina Anna
Implementation of human rights under martial law: a criminal-legal assessment
ISSN online: 2617-9776 print: 0869-2491
Introduction. Martial law in the field of ensuring human rights causes dificulties due to the fact that the state must simultaneously take the necessary measures to ensure these and other rights and reasonably restrict a number of human and civil rights and freedoms. After all, an armed conflict, the occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine is accompanied by a violation of a number of rights of the population. And in these conditions, additional coverage of the issue of the implementation of some human rights, in particular the right to self-defense, is required.
The aim of this study will be a criminal-legal assessment of the implementation of human and civil rights in conditions of martial law.
Results. In Ukraine, the conditions for the legality of restrictions on human and civil rights and freedoms in conditions of martial law are determined by the Constitution and other laws of Ukraine. Currently, such human rights are restricted as freedom of movement; unhindered choice of place of residence; the right to freely leave the territory of Ukraine, taking into account the restrictions provided for by law, as well as to travel by vehicle in Ukraine or in areas where martial law has been introduced; inviolability of home, private life, secrecy of correspondence and other correspondence and to freely possess, dispose of and use private property.
The human right to self-defense is not fully implemented in Ukraine both at the legislative and law enforcement levels. The issue of the exercise of the right to self-defense by military personnel remains insuficiently regulated.
Conclusions. It has been established that there are legislative and factual grounds to consider the restrictions on the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, which are introduced in Ukraine for the period of martial law, a legitimate and necessary step. In view of this, criminal liability for such restrictions is excluded. To overcome the misinformation of the population regarding the constitutionality (legality) of such restrictions, measures should be taken to disseminate accessible explanatory information on these issues. It has been revealed that there is a need to increase the effectiveness of the implementation of the human right to self-defense: resolving the issue of legislative regulation of the circulation of firearms in Ukraine; improving the mechanism for exercising the right to self-defense of military personnel who are in conditions of extreme necessity and other circumstances that exclude the criminal illegality of the act.
Keywords: human and civil rights and freedoms, restrictions on rights and freedoms, implementation of human rights, right to self-defense, martial law, armed conflict, legality, criminal law assessment, legal regime, legislative support.
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Дата першого надходження рукопису до видання: 16.01.2026
Дата прийнятого до друку рукопису після рецензування: 03.03.2026
Дата публікації: 24.03.2026