Politically Motivated Justice: Authoritarian Legacies and Their Role in Shaping Constitutional Practices in the Former Soviet Union

The book explores the authoritarian legacies of politically motivated justice and its unwritten practices in the recent trials of opposition leaders in former Soviet republics. It distinguishes between political trials and politicized partisan trials, focusing on the latter as a tool to suppress political opposition. Aimed at legal practitioners and scholars, the book provides valuable insights into the interdisciplinary phenomenon of politically motivated criminal justice in transitional and authoritarian post-Soviet republics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 02 April 2022
Publisher: T.M.C. Asser Press

The book delves into the enduring legacies of authoritarian justice, shedding light on the unspoken practices that have resurfaced in recent trials related to both political and ordinary criminal charges against prominent opposition leaders in numerous former Soviet republics. Recognizing that politics permeates every aspect of legal proceedings in any country, the author distinguishes between political trials, which may not necessarily be arbitrary, and politicized partisan trials, which are inherently arbitrary and aimed at suppressing political opposition and dissent. By adopting a broad definition of a political trial, the monograph encompasses all trials that revolve around politicians and political matters, including elections, regime changes, activities of parties and other political organizations.

The primary focus lies on a distinct category of partisan trials that are politicized and wielded by governments to quell political opposition and dissent. This book is of utmost importance to legal practitioners, including human rights lawyers, prosecutors, and judges, as well as postgraduates, researchers, teaching assistants, and university law professors. It provides valuable insights into the interdisciplinary phenomenon of politically motivated criminal justice in transitional and authoritarian post-Soviet republics. Furthermore, the volume holds significance for readers with interests in Eastern European Studies, Transitional Justice, Law and Society, Slavic Studies, and Theory and History of State and Law.

Artem Galushko is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity in Germany, where he conducts research on issues related to transitional justice, authoritarianism, and the politics of law.

Weight: 361g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789462654617
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021