International Conference "Paths to Implementing the UN Convention against Cybercrime: Challenges and Prospects" held at the HSE University Faculty of Law
The topic of the conference was no coincidence. The UN Convention against Cybercrime, the development of which was initiated by the Russian Federation back in 2019, was opened for signature in Hanoi on October 25, 2025. As a universal international treaty, it symbolizes the joint efforts of the global community in combating unlawful acts in the digital sphere and requires thorough scientific and practical reflection on the mechanisms for its implementation.
In their welcoming addresses, the HSE Faculty of Law representatives emphasized the importance of international dialogue on harmonizing national legislation with new international standards, as well as the need to exchange experience between legal schools from different countries in the context of rapid digitalization.
The conference was conducted in two languages (Russian and English) with simultaneous interpretation. The event was attended by representatives of government bodies and scholars from leading Russian universities, as well as colleagues from Armenia, Belarus, Germany, and China.
Participants of the plenary session and thematic panels discussed:
- Prospects for implementing the provisions of the UN Convention against Cybercrime into national, in particular criminal, legislation;
- Legal and organizational challenges that states will face in adapting international norms;
- Issues of international cooperation in countering the use of information and communication technologies for criminal purposes;
- Problems of terminological unity and the classification of cybercrimes across different legal systems.
Key presentations were delivered by:
Mr. Alexander Lashch – Deputy Director for the Department of International Law and Cooperation, Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.
Title of the presentation: "International Cooperation in Justice: Before and After the Hanoi Convention".
Dr. Martin Paul Waßmer – Professor, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Cologne (Germany).
Title of the presentation: "Implementation of the UN Convention against Cybercrime in Germany"
Dr. Zhao Lu – Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Beijing Normal University (China).
Title of the presentation: "Implementation of the UN Convention against Cybercrime: Practical Challenges and Prospects for Further Development"
Dr. Maria Talan – Professor, Head of the Department of Criminal Law, Kazan Federal University.
Title of the presentation: "Cybercrimes in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation: Issues of Terminology"
The conference was marked by lively and substantive discussions, confirming the strong interest of the professional community in harmonizing international and national regulatory frameworks in the field of cybercrime counteraction. Following the event, participants noted the need to continue the scholarly and practical dialogue and to prepare joint recommendations for law-making and law-enforcement bodies.