У статті проаналізовано існуючі в теорії кримінального права спірні позиції вчених щодо визначення потерпілого як кримінально-правової категорії. З’ясовано
різницю між процесуальним і кримінально-правовим
статусом потерпілого. Визначено потерпілих від такого злочину, як підміна дитини, передбаченого ст. 148
Кримінального кодексу України. Розглянуто кримінально-правове становище дитини як потерпілого у разі
вчинення щодо неї підміни. Наводяться приклади можливості підміни дитини старшого віку (14–18 років),
запропоновано вважати потерпілими від даного злочину не лише дітей, які використовувалися для підміни,
а й їх близьких родичів (у тому числі й батьків).
The problem of determining a victim as the criminal
and legal category has a significant importance for the science of criminal law
in general. Studying and characterizing victims within some corpus delicti, the
tactics of crime prevention and combating them are developed; and social nature of a crime is determined in general. Using also this knowledge about victims we address the issues about criminalization or decriminalization of an act,
determining the gravity level of a crime, etc. Herewith, it is necessary, first of all,
to distinguish the concept of a victim in various fields of knowledge within legal
science, in particular in criminal law, criminology and criminal proceedings.
While clarifying the problem of determining a victim from substitution of
a child there is a number of important issues that are required of detailed study
and elucidation. These issues, in particular, include determining the range of
victims from this crime, the nature and type of damage caused by the damage
in connection with the commission of the crime, the age of a child, used in the
substitution, etc.
The objective of this article is criminal and legal characteristics of a victim
of the crime under the Art. 148 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, analysis of the
possibilities both practical and theoretical concerning the commission of substi-
tution of a child, determining the nature and type of damage caused to victims,
as well as determining the procedural position of close relatives of children used
for substitution.
In modern legal doctrine there are criminal and legal,
criminological and criminal and procedural concepts of a victim. Delimitation
of these categories is carried out in the article.
A child is admitted just formally as a victim in case of committed substitution against this child. Indeed, it is because of the physical development of a
child, who is not able to file a claim for admitting this child as a victim, to collect
evidence, to participate in investigative (search) actions, to appeal decisions,
etc., namely has no full legal capability. Parents or other close relatives in this
case acquire procedural status of a victim.
An important aspect in clarifying this issue is definition of the notion of a
child within the jurisprudence. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child it is a human being before 18 years old.
The author of the paper analyzes the issue about the age of a child who
may be a victim of the crime that is being studied, as well as the criminal and
legal features.
On the basis of the analysis of stated material the author has made the
following conclusions: a child in the context of the Art. 148 of the Criminal Code
of Ukraine is a human being under the age of eighteen years, besides the victims
of this crime are both children used for the substitution, and close relatives of
these children (parents, grandfather, grandmother, sister, brother, etc.).
В статье проанализированы существующие в теории уголовного
права спорные позиции ученых относительно определения потерпевшего как уголовно-правовой категории. Выяснена разница между
процессуальным и уголовно-правовым статусом потерпевшего. Определены потерпевшие от такого преступления, как подмена ребенка,
предусмотренного ст. 148 Уголовного кодекса Украины. Рассмотрено
уголовно-правовое положение ребёнка как потерпевшего в случае совершения в отношении него подмены. Приводятся примеры возможности
подмены ребенка старшего возраста (14–18 лет). Предложено считать
потерпевшими от данного преступления не только детей, которые использовались для подмены, но и их близких родственников (в том числе
и родителей).
