Aleksandr Volevodz

Vice Dean for Scientific Affairs of The International Law School

After graduation from the Military Law Faculty of the Red Banner Order Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR in 1982, Aleksandr G. Volevodz served on the prosecutor and investigative positions in the Military Prosecutor’s Office for more than 20 years.

For exemplary performance of official duties he was repeatedly encouraged by the Prosecutor General of USSR and later Russia.

He has a title of Honorary Worker of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation (2000) and rank of retired Colonel of Justice.

During the performance of his duties Aleksandr G. Volevodz successfully combined the practical and scientific work. He developed the theory and methodology of legal regulation of international search, seizure and confiscation of funds and property obtained by criminal means.

He was awarded the degree of candidate of legal sciences for a PhD thesis «Legal and Methodological Grounds of Russian Preliminary Investigation Agencies’ Activity in respect of Search, Seizure, and Ensuring Confiscation Abroad of Money and Property Obtained from Criminal Offences» in 1999.

In 2002 he received the degree of doctor of legal sciences for the thesis «Legal basis for modern trends of international cooperation on criminal procedure».

Since 2003 Aleksandr G. Volevodz is Professor Department of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Criminalistics at MGIMO-University, in 2015 he also became Vice Dean for Scientific Affairs of The International Law School.

Research interests:

  • Criminal law, criminal procedure, criminalistics, prosecutor’s supervision. Comparative law in the field of criminal and criminal procedural law.
  • Theory and practice of legal regulation of international cooperation in the crime prevention. International criminal law.
  • Legal regulation of international law enforcement agencies activity.
  • Legal regulation, management and the principal directions of activity of the European Union establishments and agencies on judicial and police cooperation.
  • Legal regulation and practice of international cooperation in criminal proceedings.
  • Theory and practice of legal regulation of the international search, seizure and confiscation of foreign funds and property obtained by criminal means.
  • International criminal justice. Legal regulation of international criminal court activity and the modern system of international criminal justice.
  • Legal regulation of international cooperation in the certain types of crimes prevention.
  • Legal regulation of information technology matters. Computer and networks crime prevention. International cooperation in the cybercrime prevention.
  • Legal aspects of peacekeeping.
  • Civilian control over the society military establishment.
  • Legal regulation of private military and security companies.
  • Legal regulation of the turnover of the crypto currency and counteraction to its use in the commission of crimes.

Aleksandr G. Volevodz is the author of more than 230 studies, scientific and practical publications. Among them are the following monographs: «International search, seizure and confiscation of criminally obtained funds and property (the legal basis and procedure)» (2000), «Drug industry anti-money laundering in the Commonwealth of Independent States» (co-author, 2001), "Criminal investigation technique. Textbook"(co-author, 2002 and 2008),"Cybercrime prevention: the legal framework of international cooperation "(2002),"The legal framework of new areas of international cooperation in criminal proceedings"(2002),"International search, seizure, confiscation and transfer to foreign countries funds and property obtained by criminal means, as well as physical evidence in criminal actions«(2007).

He actively prepares educational literature used in the learning process at MGIMO-University and other higher education institutions. Among his papers «The modern system of international criminal justice: reader» (co-author, 2009), «European Union establishments and agencies on judicial and police cooperation: study guide» (2010), «International law enforcement agencies: study guide» (2011), «Modern international relations» (co-author, 2012 and 2017), «International Criminal Justice and Human Rights» (2014), «Criminal procedure. Case study» (co-author, 2016, 2017), «International Protection of Human Rights» (co-author, 2017).

The results of research conducted by Aleksandr G. Volevodz are widely implemented into the practice of law enforcement agencies and elaborated with his participation, international treaties and laws: Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (1999), the Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal cases (Kishinev, 2002), the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, CIS Model Laws on «Parliamentary Control over State Military Organization», «On Participation of a State (CIS-member states) in Peace Support Operations», «On Counter-Acting Mercenarism in the States — Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States», draft Federal law «On the Audit Chamber of the Russian Federation», draft of International Convention on the Regulation, Surveillance and Monitoring of private military and security companies (PMSC).

Aleksandr G. Volevodz teaches the following courses:
«Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation and foreign countries» (workshops), «International cooperation in criminal procedure» (special course), «International law enforcement agencies» (special course), «International criminal justice and human rights» (special course for graduate students).

Activities:

  • Expert of the Subgroup of High Tech Crime (the Lyon/Rome Group) of the G-8’s Senior Experts Group (2000 — 2002).
  • The judge of the Arbitration Court at the Russian Law Society (since 2003).
  • Member of the Academic Board of the publishing house «Yurlitinform» (since 2005).
  • The Editor-in-chief of the journal «Legal Issues of Communication» (2004-2011) and member of the Editorial board for the journal «International Criminal Law and International Justice» (since 2007), «Drug Kontrol» PG «Jurist».
  • The Editor-in-chief of the journals «Criminalists’ Library. Scientific Journal» (since 2011) and «The Library of Criminal Law and Criminology» published by «Yurlitinform» (2012-2017) and included in the list of VAC.
  • Expert of Expert Board of Safety Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
  • Council to the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination (2008).
  • Member of the Board D 209.002.05 (legal sciences) at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the MFA of Russia (since 2008).
  • Member of the Board of International Cooperation of the Russian Association of Political Science (since 2010).
  • Member of the Russian Association of International Law (since 2011).
  • Member of the VAC Expert Council on Law (since 2017).