International Law: Russia's Instrument for Acquiring State Interests

Abstract

Over the last decade research has shown that the stability of international law has been threatened by Russia’s actions including the annexation of Crimea, breaches of airspace, and the approval of the “Sovereign Internet” law. This thesis seeks to examine Russia’s utilization of international law as an instrument to pursue national interests. Expanding on existing research of Russia’s international law violations, it asks: what are the long-term ramifications if Russia’s actions continue to go unpunished? In this context international law violations refer to Russia’s divergence from agreements that it previously consented to. Based on a literature review of international legal documents and Russia’s state first ideology, the following research analyzes three case studies on Russia’s violations of sovereignty and internationally recognized human rights. The case studies indicate that Russia’s violations of international law will only escalate as it attempts to assert itself as a global superpower. Further research is needed to identify what factors might align Russia’s approach to international legal practices with democratic values.