Foreign state immunity in the context of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine

Yevhen Bilousov; Ivan Yakoviyk; Daryna Kosinova; Syuzanna Asirian; Ihor Zhukov

doi:10.34069/AI/2023.67.07.25

Yevhen Bilousov Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3998-9947
Ivan Yakoviyk Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8070-1645
Daryna Kosinova Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2637-1606
Syuzanna Asirian Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9503-6203
Ihor Zhukov Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1374-196X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2023.67.07.25

Keywords: compensation for damage, international legal acts, national courts, state immunity, war crimes.

Abstract

The article aimed to find ways to restrict Russia’s right to State immunity legitimately. However, the study of international legal acts and national legislation of Ukraine using the methods of systematic analysis and formal legal and comparative legal methods proved the difficulty in solving this task. Thus, in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the latter is not obliged to comply with the doctrine of State immunity to Russia. This is due to economic and social expediency, the principle of mirroring international relations, and the inevitability of punishment for war crimes against another State and for violating international criminal law. Therefore, the article proposes legitimate restriction of Russia’s State immunity for Ukraine and third countries. For Ukraine, the solution to this problem lies in the legislative consolidation of a direct exception to the doctrine of State immunity to any aggressor state, including Russia. For any third country, the solution to this problem is either changing national legislation or concluding bilateral agreements with Ukraine. This will allow for recovery of damages at the expense of property in third countries and owned by Russia itself, its authorities and officials, or legal entities and individuals recognised as involved in the war against Ukraine.

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Author Biographies

Yevhen Bilousov, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Doctor of Law, Associate Professor, Department of European Union Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Ivan Yakoviyk, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Doctor of Law, Professor, Department of European Union Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Daryna Kosinova, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

PhD in Law, Senior Lecturer, Department of Private International Law and Comparative Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Syuzanna Asirian, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

PhD in Law, Assistant, Department of European Union Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Ihor Zhukov, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Department of European Union Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

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