{"id":166998,"date":"2026-02-08T18:15:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T18:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/?page_id=166998"},"modified":"2026-02-22T22:22:52","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T22:22:52","slug":"the-principle-of-legality-in-criminal-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/adjudication\/the-principle-of-legality-in-criminal-law\/","title":{"rendered":"The Principle of Legality in criminal law"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;7&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;7&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;7&#8243; back_image=&#8221;166597&#8243; back_position=&#8221;center center&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; overlay_color_blend=&#8221;multiply&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_divider=&#8221;gradient&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;scroll-trigger&#8221; animation_state=&#8221;end&#8221; animation_origin=&#8221;center&#8221; animation_scale_val=&#8221;100&#8243; animation_opacity=&#8221;0&#8243; animation_x=&#8221;0&#8243; animation_y=&#8221;0&#8243; animation_blur=&#8221;0&#8243; animation_rotate=&#8221;0&#8243; animation_perspective=&#8221;0&#8243; animation_offset_top=&#8221;0&#8243; animation_offset_bottom=&#8221;85&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;309354&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; overlay_color_solid=&#8221;#0c4f48&#8243; back_color_solid=&#8221;#0c4f48&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;bottom&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;171104&#8243;][vc_row_inner limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_horizontal=&#8221;left&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;9\/12&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;311432&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_font=&#8221;font-161747&#8243; text_size=&#8221;custom&#8221; text_weight=&#8221;300&#8243; text_space=&#8221;fontspace-111509&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;167084&#8243; heading_custom_size=&#8221;clamp(50px,7vw,125px)&#8221;]Adjudication[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h6&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;106262&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]THE PRINCIPLE OF LEGALITY IN CRIMINAL LAW[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_visibility=&#8221;yes&#8221; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_visibility=&#8221;yes&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;3\/12&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;100417&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;111866&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;4&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; radius=&#8221;std&#8221; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;868186&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_accordion no_toggle=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_simple=&#8221;0&#8243; active_tab=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;291747&#8243;][vc_accordion_tab gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; column_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; title=&#8221;Grand Chamber Judgments&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;d21d5937-3bb0-215556789140011555679505952d6a2-ca1e&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;541415&#8243;]G.I.E.M. S.R.L. AND OTHERS v. ITALY (applications nos. 1828\/06 and 2 others, judgment of 28 June 2018): the relationship between the convention and the constitution, the \u201cinterpretative authority\u201d of the Court\u2019s judgment, multilevel constitutionalism, a Convention-oriented constitutional theory of fundamental rights, the efficiency-interests-oriented approach to criminal law, confiscation of immovable property as a penalty for unlawful site development, the substantive nature of the statute of limitations.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152120&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_button radius=&#8221;btn-round&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; button_color_solid=&#8221;#0c4f48&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;205411&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fhudoc.echr.coe.int%2Feng%23%7B%2522itemid%2522%3A%5B%2522001-184525%2522%5D%7D|target:_blank&#8221;]Access Decision[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;172062&#8243;]VASILIAUSKAS v. LITHUANIA (application no. 35343\/05, judgment of 20 December 2015): Soviet genocide of Lithuanian nation, partisans as relevant part of the nation, retroactive application of penal law.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152120&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_button radius=&#8221;btn-round&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; button_color_solid=&#8221;#0c4f48&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;605172&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fhudoc.echr.coe.int%2Feng%23%7B%2522itemid%2522%3A%5B%2522002-10728%2522%5D%7D|target:_blank&#8221;]Access Decision[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;206274&#8243;]ROHLENA v. CZECH REPUBLIC (application no. 59552\/08, judgment 27 January 2015): the difference between a continuing offence (Dauerdelikt, infraction continue, reato permanente) and a continuous offence (fortgesetzte Handlung, infraction continu\u00e9e, reato continuato); the difference between consecutive or cumulative sentence (peine cumul\u00e9e ou peines cons\u00e9cutives), concurrent sentence (peine confondue ou peines simultan\u00e9es) and aggregate, consolidated or overall sentence (peine globale ou peine d\u2019ensemble); broad consensus arising out of a long European tradition on objective (actus reus) and subjective (mens rea) elements of a continuous offence.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152120&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_button radius=&#8221;btn-round&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; button_color_solid=&#8221;#0c4f48&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;105864&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fhudoc.echr.coe.int%2Feng%23%7B%2522itemid%2522%3A%5B%2522001-151051%2522%5D%7D|target:_blank&#8221;]Access Decision[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;143325&#8243;]MAKTOUF AND DAMYANOVIC v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (applications nos. 2312\/08 and 34179\/08, judgment of 18 July 2013): retroactive application of lex mitior, general principles of law as source of penal law, arbitrary and discriminatory sentencing, arbitrary transfer of case file, principle of natural or legal judge.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152120&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_button radius=&#8221;btn-round&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; button_color_solid=&#8221;#0c4f48&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;110963&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fhudoc.echr.coe.int%2Feng%23%7B%2522itemid%2522%3A%5B%2522001-122716%2522%5D%7D|target:_blank&#8221;]Access Decision[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; column_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; title=&#8221;Section II Judgments&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;9346230d-a835-915556789140011555679505952d6a2-ca1e&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;741281&#8243;]VARVARA v. ITALY (application no. 17475\/09, judgment of 29 October 2013): State obligation to confiscate the instruments and proceeds of crime, disproportionate confiscation on grounds of unlawful land development.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152120&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_button radius=&#8221;btn-round&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; button_color_solid=&#8221;#0c4f48&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;891830&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fhudoc.echr.coe.int%2Feng%23%7B%2522itemid%2522%3A%5B%2522001-128094%2522%5D%7D|target:_blank&#8221;]Access Decision[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;677080&#8243;]LIUIZA v. LITHUANIA (application no. 13472\/06, judgment of 31 July 2012): nulla poena sine lege stricta in the field of security measures, retroactive application of the more severe security measure.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152120&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_button radius=&#8221;btn-round&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; button_color_solid=&#8221;#0c4f48&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;188876&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fhudoc.echr.coe.int%2Feng%23%7B%2522itemid%2522%3A%5B%2522001-112566%2522%5D%7D|target:_blank&#8221;]Access Decision[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;115925&#8243;]HIDIR DURMAZ v. TURKEY (no. 2) (application no. 26291\/05, judgment of 24 April 2012): retroactive application of more lenient penal law including to res judicata cases, delay in the application of a more lenient penal law.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152120&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_button radius=&#8221;btn-round&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; button_color_solid=&#8221;#0c4f48&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;361202&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fhudoc.echr.coe.int%2Feng%23%7B%2522itemid%2522%3A%5B%2522001-120114%2522%5D%7D|target:_blank&#8221;]Access Decision[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; column_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; title=&#8221;Section IV Judgments&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1768653103440-4-8&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;136996&#8243;]ROLA v. SLOVENIA (application nos. 12096\/14 and 39335\/16, judgment of 4 June 2019): retrospective application of revocation of a licence to act as a judicial liquidator.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152120&#8243;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_button radius=&#8221;btn-round&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; button_color_solid=&#8221;#0c4f48&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;954284&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fhudoc.echr.coe.int%2Ffre%23%7B%2522itemid%2522%3A%5B%2522001-193493%2522%5D%7D|target:_blank&#8221;]Access Decision[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_accordion_tab][\/vc_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;7&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;7&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;7&#8243; back_image=&#8221;166597&#8243; back_position=&#8221;center center&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; overlay_color_blend=&#8221;multiply&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_divider=&#8221;gradient&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;scroll-trigger&#8221; animation_state=&#8221;end&#8221; animation_origin=&#8221;center&#8221; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":166607,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-166998","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/166998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166998"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/166998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":167175,"href":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/166998\/revisions\/167175"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/166607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.creativewalkers.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}