The article analyzes the Charter of the United Nations and the prevailing norms of international law, through the prism of basic principles thereof which constitute the foundation of the international legal orders, and the challenges the human society, the international community and contemporary world order in whole faced due to various geopolitical, political, economic, social, environmental, civilizational, formational, structural, systemic, etc. reasons of global effect in the course of latest decades. The global challenges cannot but affect international (interstate) relationships and international law, which are based on the United Nations’ Charter and the principles enshrined therein 80 years ago, qualified as “basic” ones. It is natural to approach them from the point of view issuing from essential qualities, efficiency and potential that were endowed therewith by the creators, i.e. the UN member states.

Objective. The Western concept of world order is based on coercive dominance, economic injustice and ideological monopoly over all significant spheres of society. The process of "universalizing" values and developing the so-called "common" approaches has occurred without regard for the national characteristics and development goals of the world majority. Rethinking of the ideological foundations of international law is necessary today.

Conclusions. The author demonstrates that modern international law is based on procedural, rather than substantive, justice. In the context of actual inequality as a result of colonialism, formal legal equality often turns in practice into fiction. It is substantiated that the concept of "Multipolarity and equitable development for all" proposed by the President of the Russian Federation opens up the prospect for all states to choose their own development path and is capable of bringing genuine justice to the content of social interaction at the international level. Methodology. Historical analysis, dialectics, systems analysis, forecasting.

Scientific and practical significance. The article contributes to further development of scientific research activities and improvement of law enforcement practices, taking into account the nationally oriented vector in the context of the practical implementation of "Multipolarity and equitable development for all" concept.

Issues of regionalism in international law have recently gained renewed significance. The article examines the problem of a fundamental shift in international politics, manifested in the reorientation of state priorities and the movement away from active participation in universal processes toward the persistent creation of various forms of regional cooperation. In a multipolar environment, regionalism is gaining the status of one of the most effective instruments for solving political, economic, and legal challenges, compensating for the declining effectiveness of universal international mechanisms. Particular attention is paid to the concept of “normative regionalism” proposed by the International Law Commission, which presupposes either the existence of special norms or principles (lex specialis) binding upon the member states of regional integration organizations, or the non-application of universal norms or principles to those states. It is noted that the practice of implementing the UN Charter has, in effect, strengthened the role of regional structures, including their participation in the maintenance of international peace and security.

The article addresses the highly relevant issue concerning the new phase of the International Law Commission’s work which dates back to the turn of the 21st century and marks a pivotal shift in its approach to ‘packaging’ its final outcomes driven by the exhaustion of the Commission’s codification projects, and changes in its composition and decision-making procedures. The article provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of the Commission’s working methods. The author argues that today, the criticism of the Commission’s work associated with the adoption of its drafts in forms other than draft articles or draft conventions, with the refusal to subsequently develop international treaties (conventions) on their basis, must be balanced by recognition of the objective influence that such drafts ultimately exert on law enforcement practice, and on the development of international law as a whole. The significance of such drafts as instruments of ‘soft law’ when they are approved by the UN General Assembly in the form of its resolutions, as well as for the identification of customary international law, is highlighted. The article is aimed at developing a balanced doctrinal assessment of the Commission’s role in contemporary international rule-making, taking into account the rational utilization of its updated potential.

This scientific article provides a comprehensive analysis of one of the most acute contradictions in modern international law — the collision between a state’s right to self-defence and a people’s right to self-determination. The research traces the evolution of the right to self-defence from the classic “Caroline” precedent (1837), which established the criteria of necessity and proportionality, through the “Nicaragua” case (1986), which introduced a strict “effective control” criterion for attributing the actions of nonstate actors to a state, up to the contemporary Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The article argues that the prolonged Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, deemed illegal in the 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, creates a legal paradox: an occupying power cannot legitimately invoke self-defence (Article 51 of the UN Charter) in a territory it itself controls. Simultaneously, the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, repeatedly affirmed by UN resolutions, includes, under conditions of occupation, a right to resistance, which, however, must be exercised within the strict framework of international humanitarian law.

The key conclusion of the work is that resolving this fundamental duality and achieving a sustainable peace is only possible through the termination of the occupation and the full realization of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, which forms the foundation for genuine security for all parties to the conflict.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine exemplifies many of the challenges that humanity has faced throughout modern history, including religious differences, nationalism, economic inequality, colonialism and totalitarianism. The legal context of this conflict is extremely complex and encompasses issues relating to self-determination, human rights, international humanitarian law and the jurisdiction of international organizations. The International Court of Justice has issued three advisory opinions on the Palestinian issue. This article examines the most recent of these: the Opinion on the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations in the occupied Palestinian territory, dated 22 October 2025. After reviewing the Court’s main conclusions, the article examines the positions of the judges who issued dissenting opinions and provides the author’s comments. In the author’s view, the Opinion differs from others in terms of its tone (the Court attempted to avoid criticizing Israel), the narrow formulation of the question (the UN General Assembly requested that the Court determine Israel’s obligations rather than the consequences of their violation) and the Court’s refusal to interpret the question more broadly. However, the main problem is that the Opinion is unlikely to be taken into account by Israel and is unlikely to help the UN General Assembly determine its own course of action. Thus, the opinion reflects the broader trend of international judicial proceedings increasingly taking on the character of lawfare.

Contemporary doctrine and practice of international law remain subject-centred: the answer to the question of the subjects of international law still serves as an explanation of what international law is and to whom it is accessible. Another constant of the system is its state-centrism, whereby sovereign States retain a privileged position as the creators and primary appliers of law. The departure from pure statism during the beginning of the twentieth century, nevertheless did not bring about any radical change. The derivative personality theory (the so-called recognition theory), which replaced the statism, not only maintained the monopoly of the State within the international legal system but, in a certain sense, reinforced it by recognising the State as a social necessity and as the exclusive creator of any new subjects of international law (international legal persons). Despite the alternative approaches to personality, the recognition theory proved to be a convenient tool for proponents of the exclusiveness of States under international law and prevails today.

Relying on the methodology of critical genealogy and on a case-study of the 1949 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations, the historical and philosophical origins of the derivative personality theory are traced. The theory is shown to represent, on the one hand, a revisionist and, on the other, a reactionary and restorative approach in the broader context of the sociological renewal of law. Ultimately, in light of the critique of analytical jurisprudence and its focus on the mechanics of legal regulation, the tautological nature of personality — defined through legal rights and obligations — is demonstrated.

This article provides a retrospective historical analysis of the United Nations (UN) contribution to the development of the international legal framework for regulating sovereign debt. It provides a brief overview of the activities of UN bodies and other elements of the UN system, such as the United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the UN Conference on Financing for Development, and others. It traces the evolution of regulation from addressing the debt problems of individual states/categories of states to the development of universal approaches to ensuring sovereign debt sustainability. Particular attention is given to the role of the UN General Assembly and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in developing of Basic Principles on Sovereign Debt Restructuring Processe.

The 2025 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on Climate Change is seen as part of a coordinated effort by the Global South to hold Western countries accountable for their "historical" contributions to climate change, which are directly linked to their colonial past. Despite the apparent pressure on the court, it has been cautious in its conclusions about the responsibility of one group of states towards another, emphasizing that all states, albeit to varying degrees, contribute to global warming. Given the caution of international courts in matters of state responsibility, it seems more promising for applicants to file lawsuits against major Western companiesemitters of greenhouse gases. In this case, the real steps taken by states to reduce the rate of global warming take a backseat, and the main focus of the lawsuits is on compensation.

The current UN system lacks a principal organ or a specialized agency with the authority to exercise governance over the global response to climate change. This article reviews proposals for two possible solutions to this problem. The academic community proposes strengthening and expanding the powers of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The UN is discussing the prospect of a possible reform of the Trusteeship Council with the aim of transforming it into a body that manages global commons (most vulnerable ecosystems). Furthermore, it is necessary to expand the scope of the activities of the "UN Climate Change" structural unit to involve non-state actors in common efforts. The author considers the voluntary adoption of environmental commitments by international non-governmental organizations of the Olympic and Paralympic movement to be a successful example of such interaction.

Climate change is facilitating new economic opportunities in the Arctic, previously hindered by climatic conditions, thereby demanding intensified regional governance. This research identifies key challenges and proposes approaches for evolving the legal framework for climate action in the Arctic.
The study analyzes the interplay between global and regional climate governance regimes, scrutinizing the role of Arctic states in developing treatybased mechanisms and initiatives within the Arctic Council. While regional regulatory frameworks are emerging in the EU, Asia, and Africa, they typically reinforce, rather than fragment, the universal climate regime. Although Arctic Council member states recognize the critical importance of coordinated climate action, their cooperation has been confined to nonbinding recommendatory instruments that outline general aspirations. Consequently, the governance of climate change response in the Arctic, both globally and regionally, maintains a high degree of national autonomy over necessary measures and explicitly negates the need for a special treaty. On a positive note, the working groups of the Arctic Council have demonstrated considerable success in amassing essential scientific and empirical data on regional climate change.

The article explores the prospects for the development of the international legal framework aimed at protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, with the focus on strategic documents defining collective progress in its conservation. The paper assesses the UN’s contribution to the development and strengthening of biodiversity conservation policies. The author analyzes the resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly aimed at increasing its sustainable use. Special attention is paid to the Global Framework Program in cooperation with the Sustainable Development Goals as defined in the UN 2030 Agenda. As an interim outcome, particular attention is given to the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. International cooperation in the field of environmental protection continues. Despite the growth of regional cooperation formats, the UN continues to serve as a key platform for interaction among States, reaffirming its role as a central coordinating mechanism for aligning the interests and actions of its Member States in pursuit of the goals set forth in the UN Charter, as outlined in the Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation. At the same time, with due regard to technological progress and the specification of resource-related obligations, our State asserts that new binding instruments should neither amend nor abrogate existing treaties, nor infringe upon the rights and obligations of States arising under such treaties.

The article examines the impact of rapid technological progress, especially in the field of biotechnology and cyberspace, on the system of basic principles of international law enshrined in the Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation between States in accordance with the UN Charter of October 24, 1970. The “regulatory vacuums” and the process of formation of new industries, for example, the international biolaw, are revealed. The article analyzes the role of the UN International Law Commission as a key mechanism for adapting public international law to modern challenges and its progressive development. It is concluded that the system of principles of 1970 passes the so-called "stress test", but retains its system-forming character, developing through the prism of new technological realities.

The development of biomedical technologies requires ongoing international cooperation to create and update standards for their use. The purpose of the article is to evaluate the impact of WHO and UNESCO on the development of universal biomedical regulatory standards and their national application. The conclusion is that WHO and UNESCO play an important role in global cooperation and regulation of biomedical technologies, particularly when technology progresses rapidly and requires continuous regulatory adaptation. The standards they develop, found in declarations, recommendations, and guidelines, are considered soft law; however, they encourage harmonization of international and national law, establishing an ethical and legal framework for responsible and safe biomedical development, which many states actively incorporate into their domestic legislation.

Purpose: the study aims to analyze the international legal regulation of electronic commerce and to identify the role of UNCITRAL in shaping unified legal mechanisms that ensure the reliability, legal certainty, and technological interoperability of digital trade processes. Methodology: the research was carried out using a legal-dogmatic approach, complemented by theoretical analysis. Conclusions: the rapid development of electronic commerce requires moving away from the universal application of traditional law toward the adoption of specialized international instruments that provide functional equivalence, technological neutrality, and crossborder recognition of electronic documents. It is demonstrated that the absence of unified technical and legal standards leads to market fragmentation and reduces trust in electronic records, whereas UNCITRAL model laws establish a basis for overcoming these issues. Scientific and practical significance: the results of the study can be applied in law-making, the activities of international organizations, the development of national legislation, as well as in educational programs related to international trade law.

The study examines the history of the development of the 1979 Moon Agreement within the framework of the United Nations, while paying attention not only to its content, but also to the historical background, political and legal context, as well as the reasons why it has not received widespread support from the leading space powers. A special place is occupied by the analysis of the significance of this agreement in the system of legal regulation of space activities, given that it stands out among the five key UN treaties due to its attempt to consolidate the principle of the common heritage of mankind in relation to the natural resources of the Moon and other celestial bodies. In the context of increased interest in the exploration of the Moon and the development of its natural resources, the author raises the question of whether it is possible to integrate certain provisions of the Agreement into future international legal mechanisms that would take into account modern technological capabilities and the economic interests of mankind in the exploration of outer space and celestial bodies.

The article examines the theoretical aspects of the legal nature of money laundering and their impact on arbitration proceedings. The article analyzes the international legal framework, including the UN Convention of 1988 and the Council of Europe Convention of 1990, as well as national acts, such as Federal Law No. 115-FZ, regulating combating money laundering. The problems of distinguishing the terms "legalization" and "laundering" in scientific doctrine and law enforcement practice, as well as the impact of modern financial technologies on the effective suppression of financial crimes are discussed. Special attention is paid to the role of arbitration proceedings as a mechanism for resolving disputes on the legality of transactions related to the legalization of criminal proceeds.

The article presents the author's point of view on the importance of the historical experience of the medieval Novgorod Republic for the domestic practice of state-legal construction. It is the history of Novgorod that is the first example of a clear definition of the boundaries of authority of individual links of the state mechanism for creating a stable state system. The state, which flourished as a result of the active development of trade, solved the problem of ensuring the conditions of political existence necessary for the stable development of economic life by choosing such options for organizing government institutions that would guarantee freedom of economic activity and the active development of trade. Complete subordination to the power of the Kievan princes would by its very nature be contrary to the principles of a free economy. Therefore, the process of establishing Novgorod's statehood was based on a collegial management system that allowed combining and coordinating interests.