The role of digitalization in implementing sustainable development in the context of stakeholders

Digital transformation through innovative and technological development is important for economic growth and competitiveness. Digitization also influences the development of the information society. As research shows, the subject of interest in modern society is sustainable development. The aim of the article is to identify the role of digitalization in the implementation of sustainable development in the context of stakeholders. The analysis showed that the implementation of sustainable development goals is particularly important for stakeholders who, in the era of digitalization, have much greater access to information. In turn, by disclosing the results of implementing sustainable development goals, companies can build long-term relationships with customers, local communities and other stakeholder groups, creating the basis for the future of business development.

The article examines the essence of the concept of a “service-oriented state” in the context of digitalization in Western Europe and identifies the peculiarities of its implementation in Ukraine. The concept of a service-oriented state involves a change in the approach to public sector management and transformation of the principles of relations between public authorities and citizens. The service approach in public administration primarily involves the introduction of information management technologies aimed at improving the quality of public services, enhancing social protection of the population and, ultimately, creating effective social security. The priority task of the state is to create conditions for self-realization of individuals, ensure their individual freedom and rights, and provide public services that would meet the needs of citizens. Modern digital technologies are significantly changing our lives, namely the way we produce products and services, methods and forms of education, and affect the social structure of society, the economy, politics, and the development of socio-cultural institutions. Ukraine’s priority task is to create a service-oriented state in which digital technologies would create conditions for self-realization of individuals, their individual freedom and rights, provision of quality public services, and effective social security.

The article examines various aspects of the use of artificial intelligence in the public administration system. In particular, the world experience of implementing intelligent technologies in management activities of the USA, China, Singapore, Japan, UAE, India, UK, Canada, Germany as leaders in the implementation of effective digital innovations in the field of public administration is considered. Attention is focused on creating favorable conditions at the state level to support initiatives for the development of artificial intelligence and determining its exceptional role in the further development of society. An analysis of Ukrainian practices of integrating artificial intelligence technologies into public administration proves that the use of digital innovations in domestic management activities is a definite pointer for the introduction and approval of relevant social, political, legal, economic, cultural norms in order to form a modern digital society, the most important element of which there is the development and active integration of artificial intelligence technologies into the management system and the formation of a «new» netocratic public administration. The article highlights key aspects of the implementation of artificial intelligence in public administration, including automation of administrative processes, data analysis, open access and exchange of information, security and protection of information, flexibility and adaptability, ensuring public participation, electronic platforms for citizen participation, identification and counteraction corruption, hybrid service systems, efficiency and innovation.

The Media in the Service of the Regime. The Example of Russia and Challenges to Democracy

The subject of the article are the media. The activity of the media was analyzed in the context of their use to achieve the goals of the undemocratic regime. Considerations were also made on the admissibility of limiting the freedom of the media in democratic regimes. The relationship between the activities of the media and state security was adopted as the leading context. Answers were sought to the following questions: is freedom of the media the main value in the state?; can the freedom of the media be limited in a democratic regime?; if we consider that the freedom of the media may be limited, what conditions must be met for this? As a hypothesis, it was assumed that: freedom of the media is an undeniable value of democracy, but it cannot be a superior value over securing the survival of the state. The following methods were mainly used: institutional and legal, comparative and systemic. One of the main conclusions is that: freedom of action of the media can be their privilege only during the normal, i.e. safe functioning of the state, and the actions of the media cannot be contrary to the supreme values of the Nation and threaten the survival of the state.

This article provides a comparative analysis of the implementation of referendums in Ukraine and the Baltic states during the first decade of independence. The article contains a historical and political aspect regarding the reasons and results of referendums introduced in the specified countries. The article provides a separate analysis of the political features of the introduction of referendums in Ukraine, which consisted, first of all, of pressure from the president on the parliament, with the aim of the latter adopting decisions necessary for the head of state. Such pressure on the parliament, in the form of a referendum initiative by the second President of Ukraine, was aimed at increasing its powers, especially with regard to influence on the government, and a proportional decrease in the powers of the Verkhovna Rada. This was most clearly manifested during the period of formation and approval of the text of the Constitution of Ukraine, in which all the «rules of the game» in the aspect of checks and balances of the highest institutions of state power were to be agreed upon. The experience of the Baltic countries in the first decade of restored independence had less practice than in Ukraine regarding political confrontations between the highest bodies of state power. The Baltic countries finally agreed on the main powers of the main institutions of power during the first two years of their restored independence and confirmed them in referendums. Further, their plebiscites consisted more in solving issues of national than exclusively political importance.

The main purpose of the article is to examine the opinions expressed by Georgian elites regarding the position of the Federal Republic of Germany towards Georgia in 2023. The text discusses the question to what extent the image created for the needs of the internal political game in Georgia corresponds to bilateral relations between the two countries. The re-evaluation of German Eastern policy in connection with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict influences Germany’s attitude towards Georgia. Georgia is at a special historical moment. The receding prospect of Georgia’s EU membership due to the rule of law and respect for civil liberties shortcomings affects also the perception of Germany in Caucasus. The future of Georgia and the shape of relations with the West, including Germany, will depend primarily on the behavior of Georgian elites, some of whom treat accession to the EU as an element of a political game.

Elections in the Time of Crisis. Case Study of the United Kingdom in 2021

The text analyzes the 2021 elections in Great Britain, taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Attention is focused on the adaptive measures taken to maintain electoral integrity despite the health crisis. The author emphasizes that the pandemic forced a reevaluation of electoral norms and practices, prompting innovation. The article explores ten key areas, including: special voting arrangements, organization of elections, sanitary and epidemiological restrictions, changes in the structure of electoral administration, as well as the impact of the pandemic on the election campaign and turnout. Critical attention is drawn to the too late start of legislative and organizational preparations for the postponed elections by the central authorities.

This study presents and analyzes the results of public opinion surveys conducted in Wales in 2017–2023 regarding the political future of the region. Using quantitative, comparative and systemic methods, the political solutions proposed by the Welsh were identified. The aim of the study is to answer the question whether current centrifugal tendencies may lead to Wales gaining independence in the foreseeable future.

In today’s world, the problems of security and law and order are considered one of the most urgent. Legislation regulating these issues ensures public safety, property protection, and effective law enforcement. In turn, violation of the law in the field of security, namely administrative offenses, is a common phenomenon that leads to negative consequences for public order and public safety. Such administrative offenses in the field of security may be related to violations of financial security, improper use of firearms, illegal drug trafficking, etc. In this scientific article, the author considered in detail the characteristics of administrative offenses in the field of security and their composition, analyzed the legal framework that regulates this area, considered the specifics of the relevant offenses committed in the field of security. Attention was focused on the need to improve the system of collection and processing of data on offenses, including the use of modern information technologies. The article emphasizes the in-depth understanding of administrative offenses in the field of security in order to further develop proposals for improving the effectiveness of measures to prevent and combat them, recommendations for improving legislation and the practice of applying the law, which are aimed at preventing violations in the field of security and ensuring appropriate punishment for committed offenses.

In the conditions of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, the issues of gender-based violence, discrimination based on gender and domestic violence are more acute than ever before the Ukrainian society. The war became the catalyst that caused not only an increase in cases of such violence, but also complicated the process of identifying and recording them. Despite the military actions, Ukraine continues to take decisive steps to overcome this problem, following the Euro-Atlantic and NATO course. Ukraine supports the policy of gender equality aimed at overcoming all forms of discrimination based on gender. Ukraine has recognized gender equality as one of the global standards – one of the basic principles of a democratic society, and strives to achieve real, factual equality between women and men. Evidence of this is the active implementation of international and European legislation and the implementation of its provisions in the practical activities of state bodies and institutions of all levels. In order to overcome gender stereotypes, education is actively developing, the institutional capacities of state bodies and institutions, and local self-government bodies are being strengthened. Alongside this, statistical research findings suggest that women still have limited access to decision-making in armed conflict, despite their disproportionate contribution to humanitarian aid, and that women remain under-represented in the security and defense sectors , in particular at the level of decision-making, including in military and civilian positions in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Police, in international operations to maintain peace and security. In view of the above, the issue of gender equality in the security and defense sector of Ukraine, in particular, in the bodies of the National Police, deserves special attention and remains relevant.

The article determines the functions of the notariat in Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, their differences and common features, to establish additional functions of the notary, to study the procedure for performing the notarial function and its purpose. It was determined that the function common to all mentioned above notariats is to ensure non-dispute in civil legal relations through official notarization of acts, that the legislation of all three countries provides for the duties of a notary in the field of prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and control over the payment of necessary taxes and fees in cases specified by law. It was established that in all legal systems notaries, along with the notarial function, can be mediators, but with their own characteristics. It was determined what functions are inherent to notariat of Ukraine, in contrast to the notariats of Poland and Lithuania. It was established that the national legislation of each country determines which acts are subject to mandatory notarization, but at the same time, in all the mentioned countries, if the participants in a civil relationship wish to regulate their relations, they can do so in a notarial manner, if this does not contradict the requirements of the law.

Martial law is always accompanied by an increased level of tension and threats to national security. In such circumstances, there is a need to respond to specific types of acts that may threaten public safety and national interests. The criminalization of these acts becomes an important tool for preventing and counteracting threats, as well as for establishing responsibility for their commission. In this article, the author analyzed the legal provisions that were adopted as a supplement to the Criminal Code of Ukraine after the start of the full-scale invasion. The author notes that most of the articles in one way or another relate to criminal punishment for acts that occur in the information sphere and are related to the disclosure and dissemination of information, disinformation, unauthorized data transfer, etc. Based on this, the author emphasizes the need to criminalize acts during martial law relating to the digital, information and cyberspace spheres. The criminalization of certain categories of violations during the war is a topical issue, as it is aimed at ensuring the security of the state and preserving its integrity. The legislation should be comprehensively aimed at countering the aggressor and protecting civilians. It is important to note that a large number of innovations in criminalization relate to the information sphere and data transmission. The involvement of information and electronic communication systems in important aspects of modern life, such as healthcare, finance, energy and national security, creates new threats that can have serious consequences for society and the country as a whole. Therefore, in order to ensure stability and protect the rights and interests of citizens and businesses, the need to strengthen criminal liability for violations of information and cybersecurity is justified, among other things. The purpose of the article is to analyze certain types of punishments which were categorized as criminal offenses under martial law. In addition, the purpose of the article is to highlight the special role of criminal acts in the digital and information sphere and to justify the need for their criminalization.

This article purpose is to review development state of the issue of forensic characterization of criminal offenses, build the general structure of forensic characteristic of electrical energy theft, determine its main constituent elements, divide them into groups, and develop a detailed forensic characteristic of electric energy theft. Validity of the obtained results and conclusions that were based on the analysis of the latest scientific research on issues of violation of regulatory requirements regarding the accounting of electric energy and unaccounted consumption of electric energy, on the results obtained during performance of forensic examinations at the National Scientific Center »Hon. Prof. M.S. Bokarius Forensic Science Institute« of the Ministry of the Interior of Ukraine, and also ensured the use of a complex of general scientific and special methods, in particular formal and logical, generalization, comparison. Scientific novelty. In the context of forensic expert provision of evidentiary base in criminal act qualification: electric energy theft, provided for in Article 1881 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, for development of new and supplementing existing methodological recommendations for investigation by employees of pre-trial investigation bodies of criminal offenses; this article elaborates and systematizes data on performing forensic examinations and a detailed forensic description of electric energy theft was compiled that will become the basis for the construction of investigative versions and will contribute to the effective conduct of investigative (search) actions and other investigative measures, as well as quickly. Conclusions. 1. Development state of issue of forensic characteristics of criminal offenses is considered. 2. General structure of forensic characteristics of electric energy theft is built. 3. The main constituent elements of forensic characteristics of electric energy theft are determined. It is proposed to divide constituent elements into groups according to a defining sign; the most significant and auxiliary signs. 4. On the basis of generalizations of data based on the results of forensic examinations and theoretical processing of research results into the issues of unaccounted electric energy consumption, detailed forensic description of electric energy theft has been developed.