Sergey Vasiliev is an Associate Professor at the Department of Criminal Law. He is the (inaugural) director of the Amsterdam Center for Criminal Justice as well as the Academic Director of the LL.M. International Criminal Law (with two tracks: Joint Programme and International and Transnational Criminal Law).

Prior to re-joining the Amsterdam Law School in February 2019, he worked as an Assistant Professor of Public International Law at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, Leiden University (2016-2019) and a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer in international criminal law and procedure at the Faculty of Law, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2012-15). He holds a PhD degree from the University of Amsterdam (2014) and LL.M from Maastricht University (2005).

Expertise and research interests

• international, transnational, European Union, and comparative criminal law
• institutional aspects, rule-of-law aspects, and governance of international (criminal) courts and tribunals
• international (criminal) adjudication and procedural law
• transitional justice and dealing with systemic human rights violations of past regimes
• legal theory and methodology of international law

Past research:

• International criminal justice and (legal) pluralism (postdoctoral research, NWO Vidi)
• International criminal trials: Nature and organisation  (doctoral research, NWO Vidi)
• General rules and principles of international criminal procedure (NWO Vidi/HiiL)

Books

R. Cryer, D. Robinson and S. Vasiliev, An Introduction to International Criminal Law and Procedure, 4th edn (Cambridge University Press, 2019)

D. Robinson, S. Vasiliev, V. Oosterveld and E. van Sliedregt, An Introduction to International Criminal Law and Procedure, 5th edn (Cambridge University Press, f. 2024)

E. van Sliedregt and S. Vasiliev (eds), Pluralism in International Criminal Law (Oxford University Press, 2014)

G. Sluiter, H. Friman, S. Linton, S. Vasiliev & S. Zappalà (eds), International Criminal Procedure: Principles and Rules (Oxford University Press, 2013)

G. Sluiter and S. Vasiliev (eds), International Criminal Procedure: Towards a Coherent Body of Law (Cameron May - CMP Publishing, 2009)

Chapters

S. Vasiliev, ‘Article 68(3) and the Personal Interests of Victims’, in C. Stahn and G. Sluiter (eds), The Emerging Practice of the International Criminal Court (Martinus Nijhoff, 2009) 635-690

S. Vasiliev, ‘General Principles and Rules of International Criminal Procedure: Definition, Legal Nature and Identification’, in G. Sluiter and S. Vasiliev (eds), International Criminal Procedure: Towards a Coherent Body of Law (Cameron May, 2009) 19-89

F.H. Baudet, S.A.M. Huiberts-Van Dijk, G. Sluiter and S. Vasiliev, 'The Former Yugoslavia', in M. Cherif Bassiouni (ed.), The Pursuit of International Criminal Justice: A World Study on Conflicts, Victimization, and Post-Conflict Justice, Vol. 2 (Antwerp, Oxford, Portland: Intersentia, 2010) 879-956

S. Vasiliev, ‘Trial’, in L. Reydams, C. Ryngaert and J. Wouters (eds), International Prosecutors (Oxford University Press, 2012) 700-796

G. Acquaviva, N. Combs, M. Heikkilä, Y. McDermott, S. Linton, S. Vasiliev, ‘Trial Process’, in H. Friman, S. Linton, G. Sluiter, S. Vasiliev and S. Zappalà (eds), International Criminal Procedure: Principles and Rules (Oxford University Press, 2013) 489-938 

S. Vasiliev, ‘Pluralism: A New Framework for International Criminal Justice’, in E. van Sliedregt and S. Vasiliev (eds), Pluralism in International Criminal Law (Oxford University Press, 2014) 

S. Vasiliev, ‘Procedural Fairness in the International Criminal Court’ in A. Sarvarian et al. (eds), Procedural Fairness in International Courts and Tribunals (London: BIICL, 2015) 361-379

S. Vasiliev, ‘Victim Participation Revisited: What the ICC Is Learning About Itself’, in C. Stahn (ed.), The Law and Practice of the International Criminal Court (Oxford University Press, 2015) 1133-1201 

S. Vasiliev, ‘The Trial Process at the ECCC: The Rise and Fall of the Inquisitorial Paradigm in International Criminal Law’, in S. Meisenberg and I. Stegmiller (eds), The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia: Assessing Their Contribution to International Criminal Law (The Hague: TMC Asser Press, 2016) 387-431

C. Tarfusser and S. Vasiliev, ‘Artigo 56: Oportunidade Única de Investigar’, in S.H. Steiner and L. Nemer Caldeira Brant (eds), O Tribunal Penal Internacional: Comentários ao Estatuto de Roma (Belo Horizonte: Editora Del Rey, 2016) 803-816

C. Tarfusser and S. Vasiliev, ‘Artigo 59: Procedimento de Prisão no Estado Requerido’, in S.H. Steiner and L. Nemer Caldeira Brant (eds), O Tribunal Penal Internacional: Comentários ao Estatuto de Roma (Belo Horizonte: Editora Del Rey, 2016) 841-856

S. Vasiliev, ‘The Making of International Criminal Law’, in C. Brölmann and Y. Radi (eds), Research Handbook on the Theory and Practice of International Lawmaking (Cheltenham: Edgar Elgar, 2016) 354-394

S. Vasiliev, ‘Article 74. Requirements for the Decision’ in M. Klamberg (ed.), Commentary on the Law of the International Criminal Court (Oslo: Torkel Opsahl Academic EPublisher, 2017) 554-570

S. Vasiliev, ‘Between International Criminal Justice and Injustice: Theorising Legitimacy’, in N. Hayashi and C. Bailliet (eds), The Legitimacy of International Criminal Tribunals (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017) 66-91

S. Vasiliev, ‘Cross-Fertilisation Under the Looking Glass: Transjudicial Grammar and the Reception of Strasbourg Jurisprudence by International Criminal Tribunals’ in T. Mariniello and P. Lobba (eds), Judicial Dialogue on Human Rights: The Practice of International Criminal Tribunals (Brill, 2017) 13-39

S. Vasiliev, ‘Punishment Rationales in International Criminal Jurisprudence: Two Readings of a Non-question’ in F. Jeßberger and J. Geneuss (eds), Why Punish Perpetrators of International Crimes? (Cambridge University Press, 2019)

S. Vasiliev, ‘The Crises and Critiques of International Criminal Justice’ in K.J. Heller et al. (eds), Oxford Handbook on International Criminal Law (Oxford University Press, 2020)

S. Vasiliev, ‘Judicial Governance Entities as Power-Holders in International Criminal Justice: A Plea for a Socio-Legal Enquiry’, in M. Bergsmo et al. (eds), Power in International Criminal Justice: Towards a Sociology of International Justice (TOAEP, 2020)

S. Vasiliev, ‘New Woman: Aleksandra Kollontai’ in Immi Tallgren (ed.), Portraits of Women in International Law: New Names and Forgotten Faces? (Oxford University Press, 2023)

Articles

S. Vasiliev, ‘Proofing the Ban on “Witness Proofing”: Did the ICC Get it Right?’, (2009) 20(2-3) Criminal Law Forum 193-261

S. Vasiliev and A. Ogorodova, ‘Implementation of the Rome Statute in Russia’, Finnish Yearbook of International Law, Vol. XVI, 2005, pp. 197-233

S. Vasiliev, ‘From Liberal Extremity to Safe Mainstream? Comparative Controversies of Witness Preparation in the United States’, (2011) 9(2) International Commentary on 
Evidence

S. Vasiliev, ‘Usages and Limitations of Comparative Law and the Methodology of International Criminal Procedure’, (2014) 2(1) Revista Eletrônica de Direito Penal 165-196 

S. Vasiliev, ‘International Criminal Tribunals in the Shadow of Strasbourg and Politics of Cross-Fertilization’ (2015) 84(3) Nordic Journal of International Law 371-403

S. Vasiliev, 'On Trajectories and Destinations of International Criminal Law Scholarship' (2015) 28(4) Leiden Journal of International Law 701-716

S. Vasiliev, ‘ECCC Appeals: Appraising the Supreme Court Chamber’s Interventions’ (2020) 18(3) Journal of International Criminal Justice 723 https://doi.org/10.1093/jicj/mqaa031

S. Vasiliev, ‘Watershed Moment or Same Old? Ukraine and the Future of International Criminal Justice’ (2022) 20(4) Journal of International Criminal Justice 893 https://academic.oup.com/jicj/article/20/4/893/6827886

S. Vasiliev, ‘Not just another ‘crisis’: Could the blocking of the Afghanistan investigation spell the end of the ICC?’, EJIL: Talk!, 19 April 2019, part I (https://www.ejiltalk.org/not-just-another-crisis-could-the-blocking-of-the-afghanistan-investigation-spell-the-end-of-the-icc-part-i/) & II (https://www.ejiltalk.org/not-just-another-crisis-could-the-blocking-of-the-afghanistan-investigation-spell-the-end-of-the-icc-part-ii/)

S. Vasiliev, ‘Between Continuity and Renewal: ICC Office of the Prosecutor, 3.0’, Justice in Conflict, 23 April 2020 (https://justiceinconflict.org/2020/04/23/between-continuity-and-renewal-icc-office-of-the-prosecutor-3-0)

S. Vasiliev, ‘Aggression against Ukraine: Avenues for Accountability for Core Crimes’, EJIL:Talk!, 3 March 2022 (https://www.ejiltalk.org/aggression-against-ukraine-avenues-for-accountability-for-core-crimes/)

S. Vasiliev, ‘The future of justice for Ukraine is domestic’, JusticeInfo.net, 29 March 2022, https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/89434-future-justice-for-ukraine-domestic.html (French: https://www.justiceinfo.net/fr/89467-avenir-justice-pour-ukraine-national.html)

S. Vasiliev, The Reckoning for War Crimes in Ukraine Has Begun: What do the first convictions of Russian servicemen hold for the future?, Foreign Policy, 17 June 2022 https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/06/17/war-crimes-trials-ukraine-russian-soldiers-shishimarin/

S. Buriak, V. de Graaf, S. Vasiliev, etc. Solidariteit met Oekraiense students in Nederland moet verder gaan dan mooie woorden, de Volkskrant, 6 May 2022 https://www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opinie/opinie-solidariteit-met-oekraiense-studenten-in-nederland-moet-verder-gaan-dan-mooie-woorden~b7142b643/

S. Vasiliev, ‘The International Criminal Court goes all-in: What now?’, 20 March 2023 https://www.ejiltalk.org/the-international-criminal-court-goes-all-in-what-now/

G. Bogush and S. Vasiliev, ‘The Brussels Declaration: Russian International and Human Rights Lawyers’ Statement on Accountability’, Just Security, 12 June 2023 https://www.justsecurity.org/86911/the-brussels-declaration-russian-international-and-human-rights-lawyers-statement-on-accountability/ (the Brussels Declaration: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/06/09/the-brussels-declaration)

S. Vasiliev, “As war crime suspect Putin is not welcome in South Africa”, Raam op Rusland, 25 July 2023, https://www.raamoprusland.nl/dossiers/rechtsstaat-en-civil-society/2423-as-war-crime-suspect-putin-is-not-welcome-in-south-africa

Tjitske Lingsma, De lange schaduw van Luis Moreno Ocampo, De Groene Amsterdammer, 11 October 2017, https://www.groene.nl/artikel/de-lange-schaduw-van-luis-moreno-ocampo

Stephanie Maupas, As Philippines Withdraws, “Quality Justice” Is Best Shield for ICC, 22 March 2018, https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/tribunals/icc/36805-as-philippines-withdraws-quality-justice-is-best-shield-for-icc.html

BBC News – MH17: Russia 'liable' for downing airliner over Ukraine, 25 May 2018, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44252150

Eleanor Beevor, It's Time for an ICC Investigation into War Crimes in Gaza, Al-Bawaba, 3 June 2018, https://www.albawaba.com/news/its-time-icc-investigation-war-crimes-gaza-1140182  

Eleanor Beevor, Who's Afraid of the International Criminal Court?, Al-Bawaba, 23 September 2018, https://www.albawaba.com/news/whos-afraid-international-criminal-court-1189090

Stéphanie Maupas, La CPI survivra-t-elle au fiasco du procès Gbagbo?, Le Monde, 21 January 2019 https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/01/23/la-cpi-survivra-t-elle-au-fiasco-du-proces-gbagbo_5413490_3212.html

Mia Swart, ‘Will the ICJ order Myanmar to stop alleged Rohingya genocide?’, 23 January 2020, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/icj-order-myanmar-stop-rohingya-genocide-200121154619190.html?fbclid=IwAR2iBwjE1P4cObgvbE45h2UQohX0WprcXL8Pdrj8XlVkLhSNFW8NdBJFkuc

Arjen van der Ziel, Aanklagers Strafhof zetten Palestina-onderzoek voort, Trouw, 9 February 2021 https://www.trouw.nl/buitenland/vijf-vragen-over-het-onderzoek-naar-mogelijke-oorlogsmisdaden-van-israel-in-de-palestijnse-gebieden-dit-is-zuiver-antisemitisme~b8492de0/

Janet Anderson, Afghanistan: A War of Positions at the ICC, JusticeInfo.net, 21 October 2021, https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/83498-afghanistan-war-of-position-icc.html

Stéphanie Maupas et Nathalie Guibert, Guerre en Ukraine : Kiev plaide contre la Russie devant la Cour internationale de justice, Le Monde, 7 March 2022, https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2022/03/07/guerre-en-ukraine-kiev-plaide-contre-l-invasion-russe-devant-la-cour-internationale-de-justice_6116402_3210.html

Jannie Schipper, ‘Oorlogsmisdaad snel begaan, traag bestraft’, Noord-Hollands Blad, 9 maart 2022, p. 3

https://www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/cnt/dmf20220308_43037967?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic

Julia Crawford, Will Russia’s leaders be brought to justice for Ukraine war crimes?, Swiss Info, 10 March 2022, https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/will-russia-s-leaders-be-brought-to-justice-for-ukraine-war-crimes---47416668?utm_medium=socialflow&utm_campaign=own-posts&utm_content=o&utm_source=twitter

Ashwant Nandram, ‘In Boetsja liggen de lijken op straat, maar de kans dat de daders worden berecht lijkt ‘vrij klein’, Volkskrant, 5 april 2022 https://www.volkskrant.nl/a-be1c0cbf  

Niels Ivar Larsen, Johanne Breum Jacobsen, Bo Elkjær, “Dag for dag bliver det tydeligere, at Rusland med sin retræte fra Kyiv forbereder ny storoffensiv i øst”, Information, 6 April 2022 https://www.information.dk/udland/2022/04/dag-dag-tydeligere-rusland-retraete-kyiv-forbereder-ny-storoffensiv-oest?lst_frnt

Frédérick Lavoie, L’impunité des puissants, Le Quotidien, 6 April 2022, https://www.lequotidien.com/2022/04/06/limpunite-des-puissants-af2375d4a08937d9c46f2f675daf5057

Johanne Breum Jacobsen & Bo Elkjær, Mekanismerne bag krigsforbrydelserne i Ukraine er velkendte – og den brutale strategi kan give bagslag for russerne, 11 April 2022, https://www.information.dk/udland/2022/04/mekanismerne-bag-krigsforbrydelserne-ukraine-velkendte-brutale-strategi-kan-give-bagslag-russerne

Robert Tallast, What genocide means and what Joe Biden’s accusation mean for Russia, 13 April 2022, The National News (UAE) https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/2022/04/14/what-genocide-means-and-what-joe-bidens-accusation-mean-for-russia/

Hanneke den Hertog, Genocide bewijzen niet eenvoudig, Reformatorisch Dagblad, 14 april 2022, https://www.rd.nl/artikel/971842-genocide-bewijzen-niet-eenvoudig

Radio the World (on air), 5 May 2022 https://theworld.org/media/2022-05-13/ukraine-begins-war-crime-first-trial-against-russian-soldier  

BBC World News (on air), ICC Investigation into War Crimes in Ukraine, 18 May 2022

RTL Nieuws, Eerste zaak tegen Russische soldaat in Oekraïne is 'laaghangend fruit', 18 May 2022 https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/buitenland/artikel/5309298/rechtszaken-oekraine-russische-oorlogsmisdaden

Johanne Breum Jacobsen, Selv om Ukraine lykkes med at retsforfølge enkelte soldater, har det store retsopgør lange udsigter, Dagbladet Information, 25 July 2022, https://www.information.dk/udland/2022/07/ukraine-lykkes-retsforfoelge-enkelte-soldater-store-retsopgoer-lange-udsigter?kupon=eyJpYXQiOjE2NTg3MzEyMzUsInN1YiI6IjQ2ODg2NDo3NjgzNjcifQ.xXLgSzcAKON1tfDo73ljNg

Tjitske Lingsma, Het recht als wapen, De Groene Amsterdammer, 3 August 2022, https://www.groene.nl/artikel/het-recht-als-wapen

Julia Crawford, Ukraine: What to Make of Russia’s Copycat Justice?, JusticeInfo.net, 22 August 2022, https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/104553-ukraine-what-to-make-russia-copycat-justice.html

Prodolzhenie Sleduet/Pavel Kanygin, “The Russian government calculated in advance how many people would likely perish in Mariupol”, 10 November 2022, https://youtu.be/Xw-KxND-pJM?t=655, in Russian: https://prosleduet.media/details/ukrainczev-ubivali-po-gostu/; in English (“How Mariupol citizens were killed according to GOST”): https://prosleduet.media/details/how-mariupol-citizens-were-killed-according-to-gost/

Prodolzhenie Sleduet/Pavel Kanygin, «России придется отвечать: Эксперты-международники рассказали, как Россия будет выплачивать репарации» / “Russia will have to answer: international law experts explained how Russia will be paying reparations” (in Russian), 18 November 2022, https://prosleduet.media/news/rossii-pridetsya-otvechat/

Samuel Witteveen Gómez, ‘Juzgar a Putin: ¿Hasta dónde llega el compromiso de Europa con la justicia internacional?’ 23 February 2023,  https://ctxt.es/es/20230201/Politica/42220/corte-penal-internacional-crimen-de-agresion-vladimir-putin.htm

Geoffrey York, ‘Russian President Vladimir Putin evades arrest warrant by skipping BRICS summit in South Africa’, The Globe and Mail, 19 July 2023, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-putin-brics-summit-south-africa/

Lucia Schulten, ‘Ukraine vs. Russia: Genocide proceedings at UN's top court’, Deutsche Welle, 17 September 2023, https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-vs-russia-proceedings-over-genocide-convention-at-uns-top-court/a-66816377

Noémi Lemoine, ‘Israël wil wraak zonder genade, maar ook oorlog kent regels’, RTL Nieuws, 11 October 2023, https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/buitenland/artikel/5412350/wat-mag-wel-niet-oorlog-tussen-israel-en-hamas-oorlogsrecht

DW News, ‘Are the international laws on armed conflicts being violated in the Israel-Hamas war?’. 18 October 2023, explainer for social media (Twitter/X and Instagram)

DW News, What international law has to say about the Israel-Hamas war, 26 October 2023, YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1H7H1XaQjo