the invention concerns an electrosurgical instrument comprising two articulated branches , which can be actuated in the manner of a squeezing tool . the instrument further comprises electrode parts at the distal ends of the branches for grasping tissue and for conducting a coagulating current through the tissue in order to cause it to coagulate as well as current - supplying devices for supplying the coagulating current to the electrode parts from an hf generator . at least one device for preventing a short circuit is arranged and configured on the electrode parts in such a way that the electrode parts are unable to touch .