The UN Convention on Cybercrime (the “Hanoi Convention”) and its significance for Germany and Russia

Given the scale and significance of addressing cybercrime, the authors examine the adoption of the UN Convention on Cybercrime 2025 (hereinafter — the Hanoi Convention) and its prospective impact on legislation, primarily criminal, in Germany and Russia. The article begins by analysing the process of developing and adopting the Hanoi Convention, with particular attention to its reception by the scientific and expert communities of both States. It is concluded that certain differences arise from the fact that Germany, unlike Russia, has ratified the 2001 Budapest Convention of the Council of Europe (hereinafter — the Budapest Convention). The authors then propose a comparative analysis of the main provisions of the Hanoi and Budapest Conventions. They go on to analyse in considerable detail the potential changes in the criminal legislation of Germany and Russia associated with the possible ratification of the Hanoi Convention. Ultimately, the conclusion is drawn that implementing the provisions of the Hanoi Convention would have a positive impact on the criminal legislation of both Russia and Germany by strengthening global protection against cybercrime.