Criminal liability for humanitarian aid embezzlement during war: The case of Ukraine

The aim of the article was to reveal the content of the controversial elements of the illegal use of humanitarian aid, provided for in Article 201-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine; to clarify the validity of the introduction of this prohibition and, moreover, to discuss its impact on law enforcement. All of which in order to be able to determine the prospects for the development of criminal law in the field. Several research methods have been used in the article, such as: comparative, systemic-structural and legal-formal. Referring to the appropriate methodological basis has made it possible to delve into the issues of criminal liability for embezzlement of humanitarian aid funds in Ukraine. Based on the results of the comparative analysis, it has been noted that there are no special provisions on appropriation and embezzlement of humanitarian aid items in the legislation of certain European states. As a conclusion it has been argued that the introduction of article 201-2 in the Criminal Code, is an example of excessive criminalization because: in this case, the act, which is inherent in the social harmfulness necessary for criminalization, did not require criminalization, since criminal liability for it has already existed and is broadly typified in the law.