AJEE New Issue Launch
Issue 4/2026
Law and Justice Today: Human Rights, Constitutional Supremacy, and European Standards in the New Issue
This issue of our journal covers key topics that are highly relevant to contemporary jurisprudence. Specifically, these include the evolving dynamics of constitutional supremacy, the intersection of digital transformation with fundamental rights—such as digital inheritance, data protection, and surveillance—and the development of economic, medical, and environmental regulations in response to emerging global challenges.
These topics deeply concern scholars and practitioners across many countries and regions, underscoring the increasingly transnational nature of contemporary legal problems. This is perfectly illustrated by the broad geographical scope of the research in this issue. For instance, we examine the impact of European Union law and standards on both Member States and neighboring regions, exploring Lithuania’s constitutional jurisprudence, cartel criminalization in the Western Balkans, and the influence of the EU AI Act on Ukrainian medical law. Alongside this, significant attention is given to comparative insights from global legal frameworks, addressing data protection and state-led access to justice models in Vietnam and China, bankruptcy restructuring in Saudi Arabia, and the environmental impacts of fast fashion in Egypt.
What is particularly crucial today is how the law responds to threats to fundamental values and the protection of essential freedoms in times of crisis. The search for effective mechanisms to ensure athletes' freedom of expression and Olympic neutrality amidst the resistance in Ukraine, the legal protection of schools during armed conflicts, and the role of judicial translation in achieving equitable justice all remind us that human rights must remain at the centre of any institutional or technological transformations.
Issue Highlights
Following the tradition of my editorial notes, I wish to highlight the most notable and landmark works of this issue. Having caught the keen attention of our editorial team and invited experts, these are the studies I want to personally recommend as you begin reading.
The delicate balance between institutional rules and fundamental human rights is masterfully explored by Csilla Szomolaiová in her analysis of athletes’ freedom of expression and the principle of Olympic neutrality, focusing on the case of Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych. Viewed through the lens of the ECtHR jurisprudence on Article 10 of the Convention, the author evaluates whether restricting political speech in the sporting arena truly pursues a legitimate aim and qualifies as "necessary in a democratic society." The study emphasizes that any interference with an individual's right to protest against aggression must pass a strict proportionality test, ensuring a fair balance between institutional neutrality and core democratic values.
The complex dialogue between national constitutional orders and supranational frameworks is examined in two complementary studies. Dovilė Pūraitė-Andrikienė analyzes how Lithuania’s Constitutional Court navigates European Union law, demonstrating that constitutional supremacy can be preserved without triggering normative conflicts. This approach reflects a robust application of harmonious interpretation, closely aligned with the ECtHR’s principle of subsidiarity. In a related vein, Abdullah Eryiğit investigates the asymmetric shift of the Turkish Constitutional Court toward a rights-based jurisprudence. By comparing this evolution with German constitutional law, the author underscores the principle of proportionality—the cornerstone of the ECtHR’s margin of appreciation doctrine—as the essential tool for preventing arbitrary state interference and safeguarding fundamental rights.
Economic integrity and the protection of property rights form another critical pillar of this issue. Monika Canco and Mirela Bogdani assess the legitimacy of criminalizing cartels in the Western Balkans. Their research invites deeper reflection on the ECtHR standard of legal certainty (nullum crimen sine lege) and the necessity of applying proportionate criminal sanctions to economic behavior. Furthermore, Fatmire Krasniqi provides a profound criminological and legal perspective on the socio-economic impacts of business closures in Kosovo. This analysis naturally echoes the protections enshrined in Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the ECHR, serving as a reminder that state administrative measures affecting businesses must ensure the peaceful enjoyment of possessions and avoid imposing an excessive individual burden on entrepreneurs.
Before concluding, I am delighted to share some important updates for our academic community. In our continuous effort to expand the reach and discoverability of our publications, AJEE is now officially available on ResearchGate. We believe this platform will significantly enhance the global visibility of our authors' research and foster wider scholarly collaboration.
