scholarly journals Frontiers of International Law Part One: The Chechen People

1996 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
René Lefeber ◽  
David Raič
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Reasonable Assumption ◽  
Military Force ◽  
Legal Analysis ◽  
The Right ◽  
Legal Consequences

Let's assume, if only for the sake of argument, that the Chechen people have the right to self-determination. Since the massive indiscriminate use of military force by Russia in December 1994, it is arguable that the Chechen people's right to internal self-determination has evolved into a right to external self-determination, i.e., into a right to secede from Russia. This is a reasonable assumption as we, as well as others, have pointed out on several occasions. However, the legal analysis has not been taken beyond this point. In this editorial, the legal consequences of the lawful exercise of the right to external self-determination by the Chechen people will be explored, albeit tentatively.

Frontiers of International Law, Part One: The Chechen People, Continued

1997 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-20
Author(s):  
René Lefeber ◽  
David Raič
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Military Force ◽  
Right To Life ◽  
Customary International Law ◽  
Parent State ◽  
The People ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Right

We agree with André de Hoogh that the Chechens did not possess a right to external self-determination prior to the massive indiscriminate use oi military force by Russia in December 1994. At no point have we argued or suggested otherwise. Hence, up to December 1994, the Chechen claim did indeed not meet the conditions set by paragraph seven of the Friendly Relations Declaration. However, the Friendly Relations Declaration needs to be interpreted in view of usus and opinio iuris. In other words, one has to analyse how this paragraph has developed in customary international law. According to our analysis of the law of self-determination, the emergence of a right to external self-determination depends on two cumulative conditions, viz. 1) the serious and persistent violation of the right to internal self-determination and 2) the exhaustion of all total and international peaceful remedies by the people concerned to effectuate its right to internal self-determination. These conditions must be deemed fulfilled if the parent state seriously and massively violates the fundamental human rights and freedoms – in particular by an arbitrary violation of the right to life – of the persons belonging to the people concerned.

Self-Determination and the Southern Cameroons’ Quest for Sovereign Statehood

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-308
Author(s):  
Carol Chi Ngang
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
Historical Narrative ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
African Union ◽  
Legal Analysis ◽  
Humanitarian Emergency ◽  
Political Independence ◽  
The Times ◽  
The Right

In this article, I provide a historical narrative and legal analysis of the Southern Cameroons’ quest for sovereign statehood on the basis of the right to self-determination under international law, which grants entitlement to political independence and to socio-economic and cultural development. This account is motivated by the manner in which the question of self-determination for the Southern Cameroons has been dealt with since the times of decolonisation, resulting in yet another bloody conflict on the African continent. Contrary to the global commitment to secure universal peace and security and the adherence by member states of the African Union to human rights and a peaceful and secure Africa, the escalating conflict in the Southern Cameroons not only challenges these aspirations but has also generated a humanitarian emergency of enormous proportions. Because self-determination is guaranteed to apply unconditionally within the context of decolonisation, I post two important questions. First, why was the Southern Cameroons deprived of the right to sovereign statehood when other trust territories gained independence? Second, is the Southern Cameroons still entitled to assert sovereignty on the basis of the inalienable right to self-determination? In responding to these questions, I explain how self-determination for the Southern Cameroons was compromised and further provide justification for the legitimate quest to sovereign statehood.

Sovereignty, Self-Determination, and Natural Resources

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérémie Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
International Law ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Human Rights Law ◽  
Ambivalent Relationship ◽  
The Right

The issue of sovereignty over natural resources has been a key element in the development of international law, notably leading to the emergence of the principle of States’ permanent sovereignty over their natural resources. However, concomitant to this focus on States’ sovereignty, international human rights law proclaims the right of peoples to self-determination over their natural resources. This has led to a complex and ambivalent relationship between the principle of States’ sovereignty over natural resources and peoples’ rights to natural resources. This chapter analyses this conflicting relationship and examines the emergence of the right of peoples to freely dispose of their natural resources and evaluates its potential role in contemporary advocacy. It notably explores how indigenous peoples have called for the revival of their right to sovereignty over natural resources, and how the global peasants’ movement has pushed for the recognition of the concept of food sovereignty.

Russland und das Selbstbestimmungsrecht der Völker im postsowjetischen Raum

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-26
Author(s):  
Johannes Socher
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Legal Rhetoric ◽  
Power Politics ◽  
Regional Comparison ◽  
State Practice ◽  
Soviet Space ◽  
The Right ◽  
Fragmentation Of International Law ◽  
Post Soviet Space

As a concept of international law, the right to self-determination is widely renowned for its unclarity. Broadly speaking, one can differentiate between a liberal and a nationalist tradition. In modern international law, the balance between these two opposing traditions is sought in an attempt to contain or ‘domesticate’ the nationalist conception by limiting it to ‘abnormal’ situations, i.e. to colonialism in the sense of ‘alien subjugation, domination and exploitation’. Essentially, this distinction between ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ situations has since been the heart of the matter in the legal discourse on the right to self-determination, with the important qualification regarding the need to preserve existing borders. This study situates Russia’s approach to the right to self- determination in that discourse by way of a regional comparison vis-à-vis a ‘western’ or European perspective, and a temporal comparison with the former Soviet doctrine of international law. Against the background of the Soviet Union’s role in the evolution of the right to self-determination, the bulk of the study analyses Russia’s relevant state practice in the post-Soviet space through the prisms of sovereignty, secession, and annexation. Complemented by a review of the Russian scholarship on the topic, it is suggested that Russia’s approach to the right to self-determination may be best understood not only in terms of power politics disguised as legal rhetoric, but can be seen as evidence of traits of a regional (re-)fragmentation of international law.

scholarly journals TAKING INTO CUSTODY IN THE CRIMINAL PROCESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS: IMPROVING REGULATIONS AND ISSUES OF PROOF (COMPARATIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS)

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 156-162
Author(s):  
Andriy Samko ◽  
◽  
Dmуtrо Pilipenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Legal Analysis ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Criminal Process ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Right ◽  
Practical Feasibility

The article analyzes the peculiarities of applying a measure of procedural coercion in the form of detention in the criminal procedural legislation of the Republic of Belarus, as well as in the criminal process of Ukraine and the Republic of Kazakhstan. The positions of scientists in the field of criminal procedure, who conducted research on this issue, are analyzed. The key positions of the proceduralists regarding the basic regulatory aspects of the application of a preventive measure in the form of detention are considered. Attention is focused on the fundamental provisions of the functioning of the system of procedural compulsion and the application of a preventive measure in the form of detention in custody in particular. The analysis of the positions of the legislators of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ukraine regarding the issue of normative regulation of the procedure for applying a measure of procedural coercion in the form of detention is carried out. The authors of the article emphasize the key aspect of the preventive measure in the form of detention in the form of its extraordinary impact on the observance of human and civil rights and freedoms in criminal proceedings. This circumstance is especially relevant in respect of the right of participants in criminal proceedings to freedom and personal inviolability. In this regard, theoretical concepts are considered and the content of international law on this issue is analyzed. The practical feasibility and normative possibility of using other, more humane methods of influencing suspects accused in criminal proceedings are analyzed. The article focuses on the normative procedure for the application of bail as an alternative procedural measure of isolating a person during detention in the legislation of the above states. The article analyzes the procedural features of the normative regulation of the use of pledge in the legislation of Ukraine and the Republic of Kazakhstan. The author's position on these issues, as well as proposals for optimizing the criminal procedural legislation of the Republic of Belarus regarding the regulation of the use of detention are formulated.

scholarly journals Crimean conflict – from the perspectives of Russia, Ukraine, and public international law

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-45
Author(s):  
Milena Ingelevič-Citak
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Public International Law ◽  
Russian Law ◽  
The Right ◽  
Crimean Crisis ◽  
Secessionist Movement

Abstract The article presents the Crimean conflict from Russian and Ukrainian standpoints, confronting them with international law analysis. It is worth to mention, that Crimean crisis is still extremely controversial, since both parties are justifying their actions with norms of international law. This article starts with brief introduction of historical background of the Crimean crisis. Second chapter assesses the Crimean secessionist movement claiming the right of self-determination, and its compliance with Ukrainian law. Third chapter examines Russia’s position and its actions on the basis of Russian law. Fourth chapter presents the international law analysis of events in Crimea and its current legal status. Results of the analysis are presented in a conclusion.

Constitutional Protection of the Right to Self-Determination

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Marishet Mohammed Hamza
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Constitutional Law ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Comparative Perspective ◽  
Constitutional Protection ◽  
Domestic Legislation ◽  
The Right ◽  
Legal Right

Abstract The right to self-determination is an essential international law principle that holds an erga omnes character. Also, the right is often enshrined under domestic legislation, including constitutions. The 1995 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Constitution (fdre Constitution) is one such constitution and, uniquely, it explicitly recognizes the right to self-determination including the right of secession as an unconditional right of the nations, nationalities, and peoples in Ethiopia. This paper selects the fdre Constitution and analyses whether such constitutional law frameworks better address some of the contentious matters concerning the right to self-determination under international law. In a comparative perspective (with international law), the article analyses, inter alia, how the fdre Constitution approach the questions of who the subjects of the right to self-determination are, and the substantive guarantees for exercising internal and external aspects of the right to self-determination with particular emphasis on secession as a legal right.

Political Participation of Aboriginal People (Orang Asli) in Peninsular Malaysia: Examining the Compatibility of the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 with Undrip Standards

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Muhamad Sayuti Hassan ◽  
Rohaida Nordin
Keyword(s):  
Political Participation ◽  
International Law ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Aboriginal Peoples ◽  
Orang Asli ◽  
The Right

The main objective of this article is to critically evaluate the compatibility of the ‘right to political participation’ of the Orang Asli by looking at international law standards. The present study utilises a qualitative socio-legal approach, which analyses the political participation of the Orang Asli under Malaysian law and determines whether the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (apa) can provide for the protection, well-being, and the advancement of the Orang Asli. Arguably, the existing provisions of the apa are not in conformity with the recognition in undrip and in no way guarantee the Orang Asli’s right to self-determination as recognised by international law. Thus, the current study recommends an amendment to the apa and introduces guidelines to empower political participation of the Orang Asli by incorporating the principles of undrip. The amendment is necessary to ensure that the protection of the right to self-determination of the Orang Asli is compatible with international law standards.

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