Features of conducting procedural interviews during the investigation of military criminal offences

The article analyses the peculiarities of conducting procedural interviews during the investigation of military criminal offences. The current conditions of armed conflict and military aggression against Ukraine have brought to the fore the issue of effective investigation of military criminal offences. It is evident that Ukraine is currently making significant efforts to integrate into the European Union, which requires not only economic and political reforms, but also profound transformations in the field of justice and criminal procedure. One of the key instruments demonstrating our state’s commitment to implementing European standards is the procedural interview. This method is actively used in EU countries and is based on the principles of the rule of law, respect for human rights and the inadmissibility of torture or coercion. Unlike traditional interrogation, procedural interviews are aimed at establishing the truth by obtaining the most reliable information possible, rather than forcing confessions. Procedural interviews are particularly important during the pre-trial investigation of military criminal offences. In the context of the war in Ukraine, investigators encounter victims and witnesses who are in a state of psychological trauma, as well as suspects who may have specific military experience. The use of procedural interviews allows these factors to be taken into account and ensures an adequate level of protection of human rights while obtaining relevant and high-quality evidence for court proceedings. It should be noted that procedural interviews are considered not only as a form of obtaining evidence, but also as a method of ensuring compliance with human rights and international standards of justice. The traditional practice of interrogation, which has long dominated criminal proceedings, is gradually being transformed under the influence of international recommendations and the practice of the European Court of Human Rights. The relevance of the study is due to the need to adapt international methodologies (in particular, the PEACE model and cognitive interviewing) to Ukrainian realities, especially in the context of investigating criminal offences during wartime, which have complex psychological and social dimensions.