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Law Journal of the National Academy of Internal Affairs

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  • Volume 16, No. 3, 2026

  • Influence of typical investigative situations on communication interaction during interrogation in cases of violation of the laws and customs of war

  • Received 20.06.2026,
  • Revised 03.09.2026,
  • Accepted 29.09.2026
  • Published 01.10.2026
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Volume 16, No. 3, 2026
  • war crimes; international criminal proceedings; subject of proof; interrogated person; psychological contact; tactical methods; psychological influence
  • https://doi.org/10.63341/naia-chasopis/3.2026.09
  • Pages 9-21

The relevance is conditioned by the need to improve the organisation and tactics of conducting interrogations in war crimes proceedings. The purpose was to develop scientifically based approaches to organising the preparation and conduct of interrogations considering international standards of evidence. The methodological basis was a complex of general scientific and special legal methods, in particular, analysis, synthesis, system structural, comparative legal, formal legal, etc. The practical component included Ukrainian and foreign papers, legal acts, and scientific and practical recommendations. The study found that interrogation is a complex process that requires a comprehensive integration of knowledge of substantive and procedural legislation, criminalistics, social psychology, logic, international criminal law, and case law of international tribunals. As elements of evidentiary activity, the interrogation is in dialectical connection with subjectively oriented investigative situations, which are differentiated considering the procedural status of the interrogated persons, their psychological state, the level of involvement in criminal activities, and their place in the system of military and political subordination. The tactical line of interrogation is determined by choosing the optimal model of communicative interaction aimed at reproducing the crime event and verifying the accuracy of available information. Based on the human-centred approach, interrogation tactics should be based on the principles of a trauma-informed approach, ensuring psychological safety, preventing secondary traumatisation, observing ethical standards, and respecting the person. The psychological conditions of the interrogation consist in establishing communicative contact, which should be built on trust, minimising the level of anxiety, and readiness to give evidence. This objective can be achieved through proper preparation of the person responsible for establishing the facts and their ability to use the relevant tactical guidelines

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