Defence of the thesis and award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to Ivan Krainyi

Ivan Krainii, a PhD candidate at the Department of International Law of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of knowledge 29 International Relations, specialty 293 International Law.

The dissertation, entitled "International Legal Qualification of the Crime of Deportation or Forcible Transfer of Children," presents a number of original scholarly contributions aimed at advancing a comprehensive international legal understanding of the deportation and forcible transfer of children.

Among its key contributions, the research introduces, for the first time, the concept of restoring the identity of deported or forcibly transferred children as a positive obligation of the State. It also proposes a model of a national implementation mechanism designed to operate in situations where cooperation from the aggressor State is absent.

The dissertation further develops an approach to the legal qualification of the deportation or forcible transfer of children as a complex internationally wrongful act that, depending on the applicable legal and factual circumstances, may constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or, where the required specific intent (dolus specialis) is established, the crime of genocide.

Academic Supervisor

Serhii Bilotskyi, Doctor of Laws, Professor, Professor of the Department of International Law, Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Chair of the Specialized Academic Council

Olha Shpakovych, Doctor of Laws, Professor, Professor of the Department of Comparative and European Law, Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Reviewers

• Maryna Medvedieva, Doctor of Laws, Professor, Professor of the Department of International Law, Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

• Roman Yedeliev, Candidate of Legal Sciences (PhD in Law), Associate Professor of the Department of International Law, Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Official Opponents

• Nataliia Kaminska, Doctor of Laws, Professor, Leading Research Fellow of the Department of International Law and European Union Law, V. M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

• Serhii Halahan, Candidate of Legal Sciences (PhD in Law), Lecturer at the Department of Constitutional Law, International Law and Public Law Disciplines, Kyiv University of Intellectual Property and Law.