Crime has risen dramatically in recent decades and its costs have followed. States are spending ever-increasing amounts on health and property, as well as on police, investigative procedures, courts, and prisons. According to a recent      observation, crime control absorbs a considerable percentage of the gross national product (GNP) in developed countries and much higher in less developed countries. However, these expenditures have had relatively little impact on the crime rate and the rehabilitation of criminals, with the relatively high number of recidivists increasing exponentially.  As crime resists efforts to combat it, the interest of legal experts has gradually shifted to innovative methods of prevention rather than punishment. Several studies have shown that crime prevention can significantly reduce the number of crimes, as well as reduce their costs.

The provisions of international documents that guarantee the fundamental right to freedom and security are transposed into Romanian legislation both in the Constitution and in the Code of Criminal Procedure. In this context, the present study aims to analyze the national standard of protection of individual freedom in judicial proceedings compared to the standard established by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Through documentation, interpretation, and scientific analysis as the main research methods, this paper emphasizes the possibility of establishing, through domestic legislation, a level of protection higher than that imposed by the conventional standard. From this perspective, by regulating a right to repair the damage suffered in the situation of unjust deprivation of liberty as a result of ordering a preventive measure, the national standard of protection established by the Romanian Code of Criminal Procedure is higher than the European standard. This study concludes with a proposal to expand the current procedural framework configured by the provisions of the Romanian Code of Criminal Procedure (with the amendments made in 2023) regarding the special procedure for repairing the damage suffered as a result of the illegal or unjust deprivation of liberty during the criminal process.

This study examines Russian cyber activities targeting European political elections, focusing on how Russia uses hacking, disinformation, and influence operations to undermine democratic institutions and sway public opinion. It highlights geographic hotspots in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans within the broader EU context. The research addresses key questions about the specific cyber tactics Russia employs and the legal and policy measures Europe has adopted to protect electoral integrity. The study maps Russian cyber threat actors and their strategies, assessing their operational objectives. It also evaluates existing national and EU-level legal frameworks and response mechanisms against foreign electoral interference. Methodologically, the study draws from a diverse range of reliable sources, including academic research, cybersecurity reports, journalism, and official publications, to provide a balanced and comprehensive analysis. Findings reveal that Russian cyber operations continuously and systematically target European elections using sophisticated methods. Current EU responses are fragmented, lack unified standards and enforcement, and create gaps in electoral security. The study argues for a holistic, multi-level European approach, emphasising the need for unified frameworks, permanent coordination, revised sanctions, and proportionate security measures. Ultimately, the research calls for an integrated European defence grounded in the rule of law, highlighting legally binding solidarity and institutional coherence among member states to strengthen democratic resilience.