For more than half a century of its existence, the V. M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the NAS of Ukraine has gone through a difficult path of its formation and development. But, overcoming difficulties, it has transformed from a small Sector of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR into a leading scientific legal institution of Ukraine.

With its creative work in the study of fundamental problems of state and legal construction and international law, the Institute has earned wide recognition among the legal community both in our country and abroad. The idea of establishing a legal academic institution in the post-war years was initiated by the then Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR and at the same time Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR D. Z. Manuilsky. Such an institution was needed, first of all, for the theoretical substantiation of the international legal personality of the Ukrainian SSR, which by that time had become a member of the UN, and for providing assistance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR in its activities.

D. Z. Manuilsky was well acquainted with Professor (since 1920) V. M. Koretsky. V. M. Koretsky at that time taught a course in international law at the Kharkiv Law Institute and maintained close ties with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR. He repeatedly served as an advisor to government delegations headed by D. Z. Manuilsky at international conferences. D. Z. Manuilsky highly valued V. M. Koretsky as a talented scientist and highly qualified specialist in the field of international law. It was with him that D. Z. Manuilsky associated the establishment of the aforementioned scientific institution.

On December 14, 1948, the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR adopted Resolution No. 2960 “On the Organization of the Cabinet of State and Law as a Part of the Scientific and Research Institutions of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR”. The duties of the director of the Cabinet of State and Law were entrusted to V. M. Koretsky, who was elected a full member of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR in 1948. But this resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR was not implemented in practice. The Council of Ministers of the USSR, by its order dated April 21, 1949, No. 5331-r, allowed the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR to establish the Sector of State and Law within the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. The document was signed by Stalin himself. On May 6, 1949, the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR adopted a resolution No. 1091 “On amending the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR dated December 14, 1948, No. 2960 “On the organization of the Cabinet of State and Law within the scientific and research institutions of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR”. By this resolution, the Government of the Ukrainian SSR allowed the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR to establish the Sector of State and Law as a separate scientific and research unit within the Department of Social Sciences of the Academy. On May 13 of the same year, the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR considered this issue at its meeting and adopted the following decision: to take note of and implement the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR of May 6, 1949, No. 1091.

It was with this resolution that specific measures began to organize the Sector of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. On May 16, 1949, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR P. S. Pogrebnyak approved the Regulations on the Sector. It stipulated that the Sector is an independent scientific and research unit in the system of the Department of Social Sciences of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. Its main task is the comprehensive development of Soviet legal science in the Ukrainian SSR and the theoretical generalization of the activities of state bodies of the republic. The Sector consisted of the Head of the Sector, a scientific secretary, three senior and seven junior researchers, a reference officer, and an accountant. By Order No. 91 of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR of August 12, 1949, V. M. Koretsky was appointed head of the State and Law Sector of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR (from July 11). By Order No. 109 of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR of September 14, 1949, B. M. Babiya was appointed (from July 15) scientific secretary of the Sector.

In 1949, the initial composition of the scientific team of the Sector was formed, consisting of seven people. In addition to V. M. Koretsky and B. M. Babiya, it included five junior scientific associates - graduates of the Faculty of Law of the Kyiv State University named after T. Shevchenko. The first to be enrolled in the Sector on July 15 was M. P. Didenko. In the fall, L. L. Potarykina, E. A. Tikhonov, Ts. V. Botsyan (Bychkova), and M. K. Mikhailovsky began working in the Sector. Since the fall of 1949, the Sector has been offering postgraduate studies in the specialty "International Law". The first postgraduate students were E. L. Kurishkov, Y. G. Yura, V. I. Sapozhnikov and P. G. Movchan. In accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR of May 6, 1949, the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR determined the following main areas of scientific and research activity of the Sector: history of the state and law of the Ukrainian SSR; international law, primarily problems related to the activities of the Ukrainian SSR as a member state of the UN and a subject of international law; issues of state law of the countries of people's democracy. M. P. Didenko, M. K. Mikhailovsky, L. L. Potarykina and E. A. Tikhonov defended their candidate theses in the Sector. By the end of 1952, the Sector had 12 research staff, 7 of whom were candidates of law. The number of postgraduate students also increased to 8. In connection with the expansion of the Sector, an academic council began to operate within its composition in 1952. Later, the Sector began to publish monographic works, the theoretical level of scientific research improved, and its ties with the practice of state and legal construction deepened. The subject of the scientific activity of the Sector also expanded. Research was initiated in the field of civil, labor and criminal law, criminal procedure, legal protection of nature. Scientists of the Sector took part in the preparation of drafts of the Civil, Civil Procedural, Criminal, Criminal Procedural Codes of the Ukrainian SSR, other legislative acts and materials on international law for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR. During this period, the number of the Sector's staff and its internal structuring also increased. In the early 60s, the number of scientific staff approached 40. Since 1961, scientific and industry groups began to be organized within the Sector on a non-profit basis, their number was increased to six: theory and history of state and law; Soviet state and administrative law; civil and labor law and process, collective farm and land law; criminal law and process; state law of foreign countries; international law. The series of monographic works of the Sector published at that time concerned the problems of the development of the state and law that were relevant in those conditions. These include, in particular, the collective work "History of the State and Law of the Ukrainian SSR (1917-1960)" (head of the editorial board V. M. Koretsky, 1961), the monographs "The Reunification of Western Ukraine with the Ukrainian SSR" (1954) and "The Ukrainian Soviet State during the Period of Reconstruction of the National Economy (1921-1925)" (1961) by B. M. Babiya, "History of the Constitution of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic" by A. P. Taranov (1957), "Revolutionary Committees of Ukraine in 1918-1920" by L. L. Potarykina (1957), "Economic and Organizational Activities of the Ukrainian Soviet State" by I. M. Raznatovsky (1959), "Regional Council of Workers' Deputies" by V. E. Brazhnikov (1959), "Legislation on Invention and Rationalization" by E. F. Melnyk (1961), "Legal Issues of Collective Housing Construction" by T. M. Lisnychenko (1961), "Legal Issues of the Activities of Inter-Collective Farm Associations" by L. V. Bychkova and V. L. Muntyan (1961), "Criminal Liability for Violation of Safety Regulations in Industry" by I. P. Lanovenko (1961), "General Principles of Law in International Law" (1957 ) and "Declaration of the Rights and Duties of States" (1962) by V. M. Koretsky, "Bourgeois Federalism" by G. V. Aleksandrenko (1962), "International Arbitration" by M. K. Mikhailovsky (1963), "International Labor Organization and its Conventions" by N. M. Ulyanova (1964), "National Question in State Building of the People's Republic of China" (1964) by E. A. Tikhonova and others. In 1961, the reference book "500 Questions and Answers on Soviet Legislation" was published under the editorship of B. M. Babii, which was later reprinted 5 times. In the mid-60s, measures were taken to strengthen the staff of the Sector and improve its structure. In accordance with the resolution of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine dated December 30, 1965, four research departments were established within the Sector: a) theoretical and constitutional problems of the Soviet state (head B. M. Babii); b) problems of state and economic administration (head A. P. Taranov); c) on the study of the causes and development of measures to prevent crime (head I. P. Lanovenko); d) problems of international legal activity of the Ukrainian SSR and comparative state studies (head V. M. Koretsky).

In 1966, B. M. Babiy took up a new position of deputy head of the Sector. The institution was replenished with another department - problems of Soviet construction (head V. M. Terletsky). It stood out from the department of theoretical and constitutional problems of the Soviet state. The measures taken made it possible to organize scientific research in the Sector in a more substantive manner, to strengthen the ties of scientists with the relevant state bodies. The role of the Sector as an institution for the coordination of scientific state and legal research in the republic was strengthened. He independently or together with the Faculty of Law of the Kyiv State University named after T. G. Shevchenko, a number of scientific conferences were held: "Methodological Problems of Soviet Legal Science" (1965), "Specific Sociological Research in Legal Science" (1967), "Legal Problems of National Economy Management" (1968).

In 1967, B. M. Babiya was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. He actually managed the daily work of the Sector, since V. M. Koretsky was the deputy chairman of the International Court of Justice in The Hague from 1960 to 1970 and spent a long time there. In the second half of the 1960s, the number of collective monographic works published by the Sector increased. Among them were: "Political Organization of Society" edited by V. M. Koretsky (1967) and "History of the State and Law of the Ukrainian SSR (1917-1967)" in two volumes edited by B. M. Babiya (1967). As of the end of 1968, 42 researchers worked in the Sector of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, including 4 doctors and 24 candidates of sciences, one academician and one corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. In the same year, A. P. Taranov was appointed another deputy head of the Sector. From 1950 to 1968, the scientists of the Sector prepared and published 92 monographs, 73 brochures and over 320 scientific articles. Both in terms of the volume and nature of scientific research work and in terms of its composition, the Sector approached the status of an academic scientific research institute. In view of this, the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR considered the issue of the work of the Sector several times (January 29 and September 24, 1964, December 18, 1967) and came to the conclusion that it was appropriate to establish the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR on its basis.

On June 12, 1969, the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR adopted Resolution No. 360 “On the Establishment of the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR”. It was signed by the Head of the Government V. V. Shcherbytsky and the Manager of Affairs K. Boyko. The Council of Ministers decided to create the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR on the basis of the relevant Sector and entrusted it with carrying out scientific research in the following main areas: a) study of current problems of Soviet state-building and development of the Ukrainian SSR as a component of a single multinational socialist state - the USSR; b) development of Lenin's theoretical heritage on the formation of the Ukrainian Soviet state; c) study of problems related to improving the legislation of the Ukrainian SSR; d) study of problems of managing the national economy of the Ukrainian SSR and legal regulation of economic relations in the Ukrainian SSR; e) study of the most important issues of strengthening socialist legality, preventing and eradicating crime and developing measures to strengthen the fight against violations of public order in the Ukrainian SSR; g) study of theoretical problems of the international legal activity of the Ukrainian SSR; g) criticism of bourgeois-nationalist and revisionist views on the development of Ukrainian socialist statehood. In accordance with the above-mentioned government resolution, the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR adopted Resolution No. 202 “On the Establishment of the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR” on June 24 of the same year. It was signed by the President of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR B. E. Paton and the Acting Chief Scientific Secretary of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR K. M. Sytnyk. According to this resolution, the main task of the newly created institution was recognized as: the development of methodological problems of legal science, conducting research in the field of state and legal construction and the wide implementation of their results in all spheres of the organization and activity of the state apparatus. The Institute of State and Law was included in the Department of Economics, History, Philosophy and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. The Institute was entrusted with planning and coordination of scientific research in the field of state and legal construction of the Ukrainian SSR. V. M. was appointed Acting Director of the Institute. Koretsky (before the elections for this position), and B. M. Babiya as Deputy Director for Scientific Work. The main areas of scientific research of the five departments of the Institute that existed at that time were: Department of Theory and History of State and Law: study of Lenin's theoretical heritage in matters of state and law; study of the main patterns of the political organization of Soviet society in the conditions of building communism; development of problems of strengthening the Soviet state and comprehensive development of socialist democracy; study of the historical experience of state and legal construction of the Ukrainian SSR. Department of Soviet Construction: development of theoretical foundations of the organization and activity of representative bodies of the Soviet state, further development of the Soviet electoral system; research on the issues of organizational structure, competence, forms and methods of activity of the Councils of Workers' Deputies, participation in their work of mass public organizations; development of problems of improving the system of executive and administrative bodies of state power and increasing the efficiency of their activities. Department of State and Economic Administration: research into the scientific foundations of state administration; development of scientific criteria for building a system and individual parts of the state apparatus; research into the problems of implementing the principle of democratic centralism in state administration and developing new forms of involving workers in state administration; study of organizational and legal forms and methods of economic administration; study of the role of law in strengthening economic ties between industry and agriculture; generalization of practice and development of issues of contractual relations and economic and contractual ties in the system of socialist production management under conditions of economic reform; study of the effectiveness of legal norms regulating civil and labor legal relations. Department of Socialist Legality and Criminology: research into the problems of strengthening socialist legality and law and order; generalization of the practice of combating crime; study of the causes and conditions that contribute to the commission of crimes among young people; study of the practice of work of prosecutorial and judicial bodies and public organizations in preventing crimes. Department of Problems of International Legal Activities of the Ukrainian SSR and Comparative Political Science: development of legal problems of international relations, development of the world socialist system; study and generalization of the international legal activities of the Ukrainian SSR as a subject of international law; study of international legal issues of the elimination of colonialism and neocolonialism; development of the most urgent issues of comparative political science. On August 29, 1969, the Bureau of the Department of Economics, History, Philosophy and Law approved the first composition of the Academic Council of the Institute. It included: V. M. Koretsky (chairman of the academic council), B. M. Babiy and A. P. Taranov (deputy chairmen), Z. K. Symorot (academic secretary), as well as members of the academic council - heads of departments I. P. Lanovenko and V. M. Terletsky, senior researchers T. V. Bychkova, V. E. Brazhnikov, T. M. Lisnychenko, F. A. Lopushansky, E. F. Melnyk, M. K. Mykhailovsky, E. O. Monastyrsky, V. V. Mryga, Ya. G. Plyasun, L. L. Potarykina, I. M. Raznatovsky, O. Ya. Svetlov, E. A. Tikhonova, N. M. Ulyanova. Thus, in the early 70s, the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR had six departments, in which 51 researchers worked, including 9 doctors and 31 candidates of legal sciences. 10 graduate students studied in the Institute's postgraduate course. In 1972, B. M. Babiya was elected an academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR in the specialty "History of State and Law of the Ukrainian SSR", and Doctor of Law V. V. Tsvetkova - a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR in the specialty "Law (problems of management)". In 1974, B. M. Babiy became the director of the Institute, and V. M. Koretsky remained the Honorary Director and Head of the Department of International Law and Comparative Law.

The new director of the Institute took measures to more clearly organize the activities of the institution and increase the level and practical impact of scientific research. Some structural and personnel changes also took place. The names of the Institute's departments were also clarified. As of 1977, they were called: Department of Theory and History of State and Law (Head B. M. Babiy); Department of Problems of Soviet Construction (Head V. M. Terletsky); Department of Problems of State (Constitutional) Law (Head A. P. Taranov); Department of State and Legal Problems of National Economy Management (Head V. V. Tsvetkov); Department of Criminal Law and Criminological Problems of Crime Prevention (Head O. Ya. Svetlov); Department of International Law and Comparative Law (Head V. M. Koretsky). In 1978, the Department of Problems of State (Constitutional) Law began to be called the Department of Constitutional Law and Improvement of Legislation. Since February 1979, the Department of Problems of Soviet Construction was headed by Yu. S. Shemshuchenko.

In 1982, on the basis of two departments - constitutional law and improvement of legislation and problems of Soviet construction, three departments were created: constitutional law and Soviet construction (Head G. O. Murashyn); problems of improving legislation, civil and labor law (Head A. R. Matsyuk); legal problems of agriculture and environmental protection (Head Yu. S. Shemshuchenko). In the same year, the Department of Criminal Law and Criminological Problems of Crime Prevention began to be called the Department of Criminal Law and Criminological Problems. In 1983, the Department of Theory and History of State and Law was reorganized and two departments were formed on its basis: Theory of State and Law and History of State and Law. O. M. Myronenko was approved as the head of the latter. Thus, by the mid-80s, the number of departments of the Institute had increased to eight. The number of researchers also increased.

As of 1984, 80 researchers worked at the Institute. From the very beginning, the Institute paid significant attention to the coordination of legal research in the republic, in particular, through the Scientific Council “Regularities of the Development of the State, Administration and Law” founded on its basis. The sphere of its coordination activities included the Kharkiv Law Institute, the law faculties of Kyiv, Lviv and Odessa State Universities, the Kyiv Higher School of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Department of Legal Disciplines of the Kyiv Institute of National Economy, etc. The Institute also maintained close scientific contacts with the Institute of State and Law of the USSR Academy of Sciences, the All-Union Research Institute of Soviet Legislation, the All-Union Institute for the Study of the Causes and Development of Crime Prevention Measures, with legal research institutions and higher educational institutions of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Uzbekistan and other union republics. The first fifteen years of the Institute's activity resulted in dozens of monographic works prepared by its scientists. Among them: a) in the field of theory of state and law: "Persuasion and Coercion in Soviet Law" (1970) and "Socialist Law and Public Consciousness" (1979) by M. I. Kozyubra; "The Constitution of the USSR: Strengthening the Legal Foundation of State and Public Life" edited by B. M. Babii (1983); "Prosecutorial Bodies in the Mechanism of the Soviet State" by G. O. Murashin (1972), "The Political Organization of a Developed Socialist Society" edited by A. P. Taranov (1976); "Legal Education and Social Activity of the Population" edited by B. M. Babii (1979); "Improvement of Soviet Legislation on the Basis of the Constitution of the USSR" edited by B. M. Babii (1982); b) in the field of history of state and law: “The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and the Role of Ukraine in Its Formation” (1972), “Legal Research in the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR” (1919–1973) (1974) and “Outline of the Development of Legal Research in the Ukrainian SSR” (1919–1984) (1984) by B. M. Babiya; “Fifty Years of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics” by A. P. Taranov (1972); c) in the field of state and administrative law: “Functions and Organizational Structure of a State Administration Body” by V. B. Averyanov (1979); “Local Councils and Ensuring the Rule of Law” by I. P. Butko and Yu. S. Shemshuchenko (1973); “State Studies and Practice of Local Councils” by I. P. Butko (1983); "Economic and organizational activities of local Soviets of Workers' Deputies of the Ukrainian SSR" by V. F. Pogorilka (1972); "The right of deputy inquiry in the Soviet state" by R. K. Davydov (1981); "Executive Committee of the Local Soviet of People's Deputies: Problems of Improving Organization and Activity" edited by I. P. Butko (1980); "Legal Status of Departments and Departments of Executive Committees of Local Soviets" by M. I. Kornienko (1973); "Constitution of the USSR: Development of Legislative Activity of the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics" by L. T. Kryvenko (1982); "The Main Link of Capital Construction Management" by E. B. Kubak (1981); "Organizational and Legal Issues of Product Quality Management at an Industrial Enterprise" by V. L. Naumov (1979); "Concept of Economic Ministries of the Ukrainian SSR" by G. V. Pronskaya (1973); "Legal Regulation of the Organization and Activities of Republican Industrial Associations" by I. M. Raznatovsky (1981); "The State Mechanism of the USA in the Conditions of the Deepening General Crisis of Capitalism" by V. M. Selivanov (1983); "The Control Function of Local Councils of People's Deputies" by M. F. Selivanov (1980); "The Problem of Interest in Public Administration" by V. F. Sirenko (1980); "Improvement of the State Administration Apparatus: Constitutional Aspect" edited by V. V. Tsvetkov (1982); "The Constitution of the All-People's State" by A. P. Taranov (1980); "Legislative Activity of the Union Republics in the Sphere of Public Administration" by I. A. Tymchenko (1978); "Legal Issues of the Activities of Local Councils of People's Deputies on the Development of Housing" by M. I. Usenko (1978); "Legal Status of Commissions under the Executive Committees of Local Councils of People's Deputies" by P. F. Chaly (1979); d) in the field of civil, housing and labor law: "Organizational and legal issues of housing fund management" by T. M. Lisnychenko (1977); "Labor discipline" by M. I. Danchenko and A. R. Matsyuk (1983); "Legal issues of strengthening labor discipline at the present stage" by A. R. Matsyuk (1973); "Legal issues of material incentives for industrial workers" by E. O. Monastyrsky, Z. K. Symorot, E. M. Hrytsenko (1969); "Legal regulation of the responsibility of minors" by Ya. M. Shevchenko (1976); "Problems of codification of the legislation of the USSR and the union republics on labor" by Z. K. Symorot and E. O. Monastyrsky (1977); e) in the field of agrarian and environmental law: "Legal protection of collective farm property" by V. I. Semchyk (1978); "Agreement in production and economic relations between agriculture and industry" by Ts. V. Bychkova (1980); "State control over the protection of atmospheric air" by M. I. Malyshko (1982); "Environmental protection in cities: organizational and legal issues" edited by Yu. S. Shemshuchenko (1981); "Organizational and legal issues of agricultural management" by Z. A. Pavlovich (1979); "Legal position of collective farm specialists" by V. I. Semchyk and V. Z. Yanchuk (1979); "Organizational and legal issues of environmental protection in the USSR" by Yu. S. Shemshuchenko (1976); "Legal responsibility in the field of environmental protection" by Yu. S. Shemshuchenko, V. L. Muntyan, B. G. Rozovsky (1978); "Legal Issues of Inter-Farm Cooperation in Agriculture" edited by V. I. Semchyk (1981); e) in the field of criminal and criminal procedural law and criminology: "Fighting Crimes Against Labor Rights and Production Safety" by I. P. Lanovenko (1972); "Prevention of Crimes by Preliminary Investigation Bodies" by F. A. Lopushansky (1973); "Fighting Abuse of Office" (1970) and "Responsibility for Offenses" (1978) by O. Ya. Svetlov; "Conditional Sentence under the Legislation of the Ukrainian SSR" by V. V. Skybytsky (1971); "Professional Ethics of Participants in Criminal Proceedings" by V. V. Leonenko (1981); "Constitutional Principles of Criminal Proceedings of Foreign Socialist States" by G. I. Changuli (1981); e) in the field of international law and comparative law: “Legal Regulation of International Economic Relations” by G. Yu. Buvaylik (1977); “Multilingual Treaties in Modern International Law” by V. I. Yevintov (1981); “Organization of African Unity” by M. K. Mikhailovsky (1972); “Human Rights and the Modern World” by M. K. Mikhailovsky, O. M. Ovsyuk, Yu. I. Nyporka, A. D. Buteyko (1980); “General Multilateral Treaties in Modern International Relations” by N. M. Ulyanova (1981); “The Black Sea: International Legal Issues” by O. F. Vysotsky (1979); “The Legal System of Developing Countries” by V. N. Denisov (1978); “Constitutional Relations between the President and the US Congress in the Field of Foreign Policy” by Yu. I. Nyporka (1979); "The Problem of "Gaps" in Law" by V. K. Zabigaila (1974). A notable event for the Institute was the release in 1976 of a new edition of the collective work “History of the State and Law of the Ukrainian SSR” edited by B. M. Babii. In 1981, the authors of this book were awarded the State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR in the field of science and technology. Among the awardees were four employees of the Institute (B. M. Babii, A. P. Taranov, V. E. Brazhnikov, V. V. Mriga) and two scientists who previously worked at the institution (L. L. Potarykina and V. M. Terletsky).

In 1979, the D. Z. Manuilsky Prize of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR was awarded to the work of G. Yu. Buvaylik “Legal Regulation of International Economic Relations”. In 1984, the same prize was awarded to a series of works on public administration problems (authors: V. V. Tsvetkov, V. F. Sirenko, V. B. Averyanov). The Institute also carried out significant work at this time on the popularization of legal knowledge. The “Legal Handbook for the Population” prepared at the Institute was reprinted several times. In 1974, the “Legal Dictionary” edited by B. M. Babiy, V. M. Koretsky, and V. V. Tsvetkov was published, and in 1985, the “Russian-Ukrainian Dictionary of Legal Terminology” edited by B. M. Babiy. In 1977-1978, the Institute took an active part in the preparation of the draft Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR of 1978. B. M. Babiy was a member of the working group and the Secretariat of the Commission for the preparation of the draft Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR. He, as well as V. E. Brazhnikov, I. P. Butko, A. P. Taranov, V. M. Terletsky headed the working subgroups for the preparation of the necessary materials for the development of this project. V. E. Brazhnikov, M. F. Selivon and I. A. Timchenko were members of the commission of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR for the study and generalization of proposals and comments received during the nationwide discussion of the draft Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR. After the adoption of the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR, the Institute's scientists did a lot to prepare for the publication of the Code of Laws of the Ukrainian SSR (Z. K. Symorot, I. A. Timchenko, Ya. M. Shevchenko). The theory of this issue was set out in the collective monograph "Improvement of Soviet Legislation on the Basis of the Constitution of the USSR" edited by B. M. Babiya (1982).

In 1980, the honorary director of the Institute, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR V. M. Koretsky, turned 90. For his great services in the development of legal science and active public and political activity, he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. This was an unprecedented case in the history of Soviet legal science. The restructuring of social life in the Soviet Union, which began in the mid-1980s, democratized the processes of scientific creation and reduced ideological pressure on science. The main areas of his scientific research included: a) legal problems of accelerating social progress, democratization of Soviet society and development of the principles of self-government; b) problems of improving republican legislation and increasing the efficiency of its implementation, strengthening socialist legality and combating offenses; c) organizational and legal issues of scientific and technological progress, development of the agro-industrial complex and environmental protection; d) strengthening the role of international law in the struggle for peace and security of peoples, foreign policy activities of the Ukrainian SSR. At the same time, the department of problems of improving legislation, civil and labor law was renamed the Department of Labor and Civil Law. In the mid-80s, scientific and research sectors appeared in several departments of the Institute. In November 1984, the Sector of Problems of Counter-Propaganda Work in the Field of State and Law (Department of Theory of State and Law) was established; in January 1986, the sector of legal problems of scientific and technological progress (Department of State and Legal Problems of Management); in October of the same year, the sector of problems of improving the organization and activities of the Councils of People's Deputies (Department of Constitutional Law and Soviet Construction). These sectors were headed by V. K. Zabigaylo, V. B. Averyanov and I.P. Butko, respectively. At the same time, the Department of Problems of Improving Legislation, Civil and Labor Law was renamed the Department of Labor and Civil Law.

In the mid-1980s, research sectors appeared within several departments of the Institute. In November 1984, the Sector of Problems of Counter-Propaganda Work in the Field of State and Law (Department of Theory of State and Law) was established; in January 1986, the Sector of Legal Problems of Scientific and Technological Progress (Department of State and Legal Problems of Management); in October of the same year, the Sector of Problems of Improving the Organization and Activities of the Councils of People's Deputies (Department of Constitutional Law and Soviet Construction). These sectors were headed by V. K. Zabigaylo, V. B. Averyanov, and I. P. Butko, respectively. After some time, the sector of counter-propaganda work in the field of state and law began to be called the sector of legal theory and comparative jurisprudence, and the sector of problems of improving the organization and activity of the Councils of People's Deputies - the sector of problems of local self-government. Since 1990, the first of these sectors was headed by V. V. Oksamitny. In the same year, the further existence of the sector of problems of scientific and technological progress was recognized as inexpedient. By the resolution of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR of October 14, 1985, the decision of the constituent assembly on the creation of the Ukrainian branch of the Soviet Association of Political Sciences was approved. The basic scientific institution of the branch was the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, and the head of the branch was B. M. Babiy. The new public association was to promote the development of scientific research into problems of political systems and political relations.

In January 1988, Yu. S. Shemshuchenko was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR in the specialty "Law". On October 12 of the same year, the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR approved him as the director of the Institute. After that, a system of measures was developed to restructure the scientific activities of the Institute based on a rethinking of ideological stereotypes and dogmas in the field of state and law inherited from the times of the command-administrative system. In accordance with this, the priority areas of scientific research of the Institute were formulated in a new way a) Development of the political system of Soviet society. Current problems of state and legal science; b) Modern trends in the development of the state and legal system of capitalist countries. History and trends of bourgeois capitalism; c) International legal aspects of ensuring peace and international security; d) Study, description and publication of historical and legal sources. The structure of the Institute was also reformed for the new areas, its constituent elements were 9 departments, two sectors and a laboratory of sociological state and legal research and information. The departments received the following names: problems of the organization of civil society, state and theory of law (with the sector of theory of law and comparative jurisprudence); problems of lawmaking; historical and political research of the state and law of Ukraine; constitutional law and local self-government (with the sector of problems of local self-government); state-legal problems of management; civil and labor law; legal problems of ecology and agrarian law; criminal-legal and criminological problems; international law. In order to improve the coordination of scientific research between departments, in 1990, two scientific councils were formed from among the leading scientists of the Institute on a voluntary basis - "Problems of the rule of law, protection and provision of individual rights" and "Problems of the modern political system, economic mechanism and management". The organizational measures carried out contributed to positive changes in the nature of the Institute's scientific research. It was at this time that the study of problems of the rule of law and civil society began, and research on issues of democracy, human and citizen rights and freedoms, and legislative activity was deepened. The following monographs were prepared and published: "Democracy and Perestroika" (1988); "Perestroika and Legal Education of Citizens" edited (1989); "The Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR: Implementation of Its Principles and Norms" edited by A. P. Taranov (1988); "Improvement of Family Legislation" by Ya. M. Shevchenko (1986), "Increasing the Role of Civil Liability in Protecting the Rights and Interests of Citizens and Organizations" edited by Ya. M. Shevchenko and A. O. Sobchak (1988), etc. A number of works concerned problems of public administration and the activities of representative bodies: “Leadership of the Councils of People’s Deputies in Economic and Social Development” edited by V. E. Brazhnikov (1986); “Improvement of the Administrative Apparatus of the Regional Council of People’s Deputies” edited by I. P. Butko (1986); “Management of Capital Construction in Conditions of Scientific and Technological Progress (Economic and Legal Problems)” by M. I. Usenko (1986); “Management of the Creation of New Technology in Industry (Organizational and Legal Aspect)” by N. M. Myronenko (1986); “Ensuring the Priority of National Interests (Organizational and Legal Issues)” by V. F. Sirenko (1987); “Program-Target Organization of Public Administration” by E. B. Kubka (1988); “Head in the Public Administration Apparatus” edited by V. V. Tsvetkov (1988); “Agricultural and Law” by Yu. S. Shemshuchenko, V. I. Semchyk, Ts. V. Bychkova, Z. A. Pavlovich (1988); “Scientific and Technical Progress: Management and Law” edited by V. B. Averyanov (1989). During this period, works on agrarian and environmental law continued to be published: “Rational Use of Reclamated Lands” by P. F. Kulinich (1987); “Legal Protection of the Environment in the Field of Industrial Production” edited by Yu. S. Shemshuchenko (1986); “Legal Problems of Ecology” by Yu. S. Shemshuchenko (1989), etc. The following monographs were devoted to the issues of judicial and legal reform and the fight against crime: “Fighting the involvement of minors in criminal activity” (1986), “Criminological problems of preventing youth offenses (experience of specific sociological research)” (1986), “Drunkenness and crime: history, problems” (1989), “Prevention of family and household offenses” (1989), “Exemption from criminal liability and punishment (theory and practice)” by V. V. Skybytsky (1987); “Principles of reflection in criminology” by O. M. Kostenko (1987); “Criminal legal protection of labor rights of citizens” by I. P. Lanovenko and G. I. Changuli (1989). The results of research into the problems of international law in the direction of new political thinking were reflected in the monographs: “Conclusion of international treaties within the framework and under the auspices of the UN” by M. P. Druzhkov (1986); “Maritime regionalism (international legal problems of regional cooperation of states)” by O. F. Vysotsky (1986); “International economic relations” by O. V. Pirogov (1987); “International security law and limitation of the arms race” by V. N. Denisov (1989); “International community and law and order” by V. I. Yevintov (1990); “Prevention of transboundary pollution (international legal problems)” by O. O. Shyshka (1990). Three works by O. M. were devoted to the global problems of our time. Myronenko: “The Struggle for Peace and Global Problems of Modernity” (1985); “Solution of Universal Human Problems: First Experience and Obstructing Factors” (1986); “Problems of the Nuclear Age and Ways to Solve Them” (1989). Historical and legal topics were reflected in monographs: “Establishment and Development of Sources of Soviet Law in Ukraine” by N. M. Onyshchenko (1988); “The First Codification of Legislation of the Ukrainian SSR” by I. B. Usenko (1989); “Political and Legal Ideas of T. Shevchenko and I. Frank in the Modern Ideological Struggle” by O. L. Kopylenko (1990). In 1989, to the centenary of V. M. Koretsky’s birth, the two-volume book “V. M. Koretsky. Selected Works” edited by V. N. Denisov was published. And on February 15, 1990, the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR adopted Resolution No. 36 “On naming the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR after V. M. Koretsky”. During the years of perestroika, the Institute held a number of scientific and scientific-practical conferences on topical problems of state and legal construction: “Problems of improving republican legislation and creating a Code of Laws of the Union Republics” (1983); “Development of state and legal research in the republic and strengthening their connection with practice” (1986); “Legal problems of economic reform” (1990); “Development of national statehood of the union republic at the present stage” (1990), etc. The modern, qualitatively new stage in the Institute’s activities began with the adoption in 1990 of Declaration on the State Sovereignty of Ukraine and in 1991 — the Act of Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine. After that and with the collapse of the USSR, significant changes occurred in the approaches to the study of state and legal issues in Ukraine. Now the relevant state and legal phenomena began to be considered not through the prism of the all-Union political and legal system, but as phenomena of a sovereign state, politically independent of anyone, that is, within the framework of its own political and legal system. Taking this into account, the scientific research of the V. M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences (and since 1995 - NAS) of Ukraine was adjusted to create a legal scientific basis for the formation and development of Ukrainian sovereign statehood and legal system, the implementation of constitutional, judicial, economic and other reforms. The priority areas of scientific research of the Institute in the early 90s were the problems of: building the statehood of Ukraine; constitutional law and local self-government; legal regulation of agrarian relations and environmental protection; criminal and legal fight against economic and other crimes; international law and international legal personality of Ukraine. Then these areas were enlarged and reduced in the mid-90s to four: problems of state formation in Ukraine: theory, history, practice; theoretical and applied problems of the development of the legal system of Ukraine; Ukraine in the system of modern international legal order: theory and practice. On September 8, 1993, the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine adopted a resolution “On the preparation of a fundamental Legal Encyclopedia”. On February 22, 1996, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a resolution “On state support for the publication of the Legal Encyclopedia”. Given the importance of this issue, the preparation of the Legal Encyclopedia in 6 volumes was also included in the priority areas of the Institute’s scientific activity. In the 90s, certain structural changes also took place at the Institute. It was necessary to abandon the small number of scientific sectors. After the clarifications, the following names of the 8 scientific departments of the Institute were stabilized: Problems of the organization of civil society, state and law (head V. F. Sirenko); Historical and political science studies of the state and law of Ukraine (head O. M. Myronenko); constitutional law, local self-government and law-making problems (head V. F. Pohorilko); civil and labor law (head Ya. M. Shevchenko); state and legal problems of management (head V. B. Averyanov); legal problems of ecology and agrarian law (head Yu. S. Shemshuchenko); criminal law and criminological problems (head O. Ya. Svetlov); international law (head V. N. Denisov). The Institute's scientists took an active part in the preparation of the text of the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Ukraine, and then the draft Constitution of Ukraine of 1996. The Institute developed and sent to the relevant state bodies a scientific concept and its own draft of the Constitution of Ukraine. Yu. S. Shemshuchenko was a member of the Constitutional Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and V. B. Averyanov, I. P. Butko, L. T. Kryvenko and V. F. Pohorilko were members of the official working groups for the preparation of the draft Constitution. I. B. Usenko took part in the final terminological editing of the text of the Constitution. For their participation in the development, preparation and adoption of the Fundamental Law of Ukraine, V. B. Averyanov and V.F. Pohorilko were awarded the Honorary Medal of the President of Ukraine on August 22, 1996. As of January 1, 2008, the Institute structurally consists of 9 scientific departments and the Center for Encyclopedic Legal Research, as well as 6 self-financing scientific centers. The Institute interacts with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the Supreme Court of Ukraine and the High Economic Court of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, other state authorities and local self-government bodies. The Institute's scientists are members of various scientific advisory councils under the relevant bodies, work in the commissions they create, etc. Thus, at all stages of its formation and development, the Institute has actively influenced and is influencing the state of Ukrainian legal science and contributes to the implementation of scientific principles in the practice of state and legal construction.