Anastasiia Kupriianova, Director of the National Scientific Center “Hon. Prof. M. S. Bokarius Forensic Science Institute” of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine (NSC FSI), participated in the international scientific conference “Focus on the Future and Technology,” held in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova.

During the plenary session, Anastasiia Kupriianova delivered a presentation on the relevance of remote psychological assessment in forensic psychological examinations. She highlighted how modern communication technologies can facilitate access to forensic assessments when individuals are unable to attend a forensic institution in person due to forced displacement, security risks, or other objective circumstances.

“Millions of Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes and seek refuge abroad as a result of the Russian Federation’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine. Many of them may require forensic psychological examinations, particularly to assess the psychological consequences of traumatic events and establish the presence and extent of moral suffering. Remote assessment can help ensure access to forensic examinations regardless of an individual’s location, provided that all applicable scientific, methodological, and procedural requirements are met,” Anastasiia Kupriianova noted.

The presentation explored the potential application of remote psychological assessment in cases involving moral suffering, victims of war-related and other crimes, and situations in which the individuals concerned are located in different countries or in areas affected by active hostilities.

As the Director of NSC FSI emphasized, the use of remote technologies does not change the legal nature or purpose of forensic examination. Their application must be justified by objective circumstances, appropriate to the specific forensic task, and consistent with the principles of legality, independence, objectivity, completeness, and scientific validity.

In her remarks, Anastasiia Kupriianova expressed her gratitude to the National Center of Forensic Expertise under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova and its Director, Olga Cataraga, for the invitation and continued support of Ukrainian colleagues.

Cooperation between the two institutions has been ongoing since 2017 and includes the exchange of professional experience, participation in scientific events, and discussions on current issues in forensic science and expert practice.