Amnesty for combatants involved in armed condlicts: between peace and justice

The article deals with amnesty for combatants, who committed crimes in international armed conflicts or armed conflicts of non-international character in foreign countries, there are also explored conclusions and recommendations of international government and non-government organisations on exemption combatants from criminal liability. It’s obviously, that amnesty does not apply to the perpetrators of such crimes as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, enforced disappearances, and some others. Considering the extended armed conflict in the east of Ukraine, it’s extremely necessary to examine the institution of amnesty within the context of diplomatic and peaceful measures of ending the conflict. As far as Ukraine is concerned, amnesty in Ukraine is a step towards general reconciliation of the society given serious work and understanding within the society is completed. Moreover, in article discussed the question on specificities of amnesty's implementation in context of armed conflict on temporary occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Special attention is focused on binding terms of amnesty for combatants. As a conclusion, author of this article states on some necessary conditions for implementing the amnesty for combatants in post-conflict society. These conditions are: Disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration. This is one of the most controversy and difficult steps. Combatants only then are going to be disarmed when they feel their safety under international and national law. There is a list of human rights violations that may not be pardoned by the amnesty: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The nation and victims of the armed conflict have to know the truth about all violations of human rights according to international humanitarian law and international human rights law. It’s important to understand, that amnesty is one of the institutions in oust-conflict society, that aimed for the end of the conflict, stabilisation of the politica; situation in the country, disarming and reintegration.