ORGANIZATION AND FEATURES OF INFORMATION SUPPORT OF PRE-TRIAL INVESTIGATION UNDER CONDITIONS OF MARTIAL LAW AND IN THE POST-WAR PERIOD: FORENSIC APPROACH

Abstract

This article is a study of the organization of information support for pre-trial investigations under conditions of martial law and in the post-war period. Contemporary research emphasizes that such support is a critical factor for the effectiveness of forensic procedures and the reliability of evidence in complex and high-risk investigative environments. Scholars identify multiple challenges, including limited or intermittent access to information in conflict zones, damage to electronic databases, delays in conducting investigative actions, and heightened risks of violating human rights. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is increasingly recognized as a crucial tool for documenting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international humanitarian law, provided that strict procedures for verification, metadata recording, and preservation of digital evidence are applied. The application of artificial intelligence in network monitoring, analysis of digital evidence, biometric identification, and predictive modeling of criminal behavior offers new possibilities for pre-trial investigations, while requiring careful regulatory oversight, algorithmic transparency, and standardized operational procedures to prevent errors or misuse. Legal, procedural, and forensic frameworks are emphasized as essential for ensuring the admissibility, reliability, and integrity of evidence. In the context of these challenges, the study proposes a comprehensive approach that integrates organizational, technological, forensic, and legal levels of information support. The author suggests measures such as coordinated management of investigators, prosecutors, and operational units, standardized procedures for data collection, processing, and storage, cybersecurity measures, integration of national and international information systems, and post-war restoration, systematization, and legalization of collected materials. Overall, the research underlines the necessity of a holistic, multidimensional strategy that ensures resilience, efficiency, and evidentiary integrity in pre-trial investigations both during wartime and in the post-war period, while also addressing emerging technological, legal, and methodological challenges inherent in modern investigative practice.