Essex Public International Law Lecture: International Law and Russia's 2020 Constitutional Amendments

About the lecture 

In this lecture, Professor Lauri Mälksoo discusses the international legal implications of constitutional amendments adopted in the Russian Federation by an “all-Russian vote”, a quasi-referendum from 25 June to 1 July 2020. The most important of these amendments gives the Russian Constitution priority over decisions made by international courts and treaty bodies. The amendments also address Russia’s state succession to the Soviet Union. Another provision protects Russia’s territorial integrity. Professor Mälksoo discusses the background to these amendments, their content, and their significance for international law.

About the speaker

Lauri Mälksoo is Professor of International Law at the University of Tartu in Estonia. He is member of the Institut de Droit International. He is the author of numerous articles, and his work has been published in numerous academic journals, including British Yearbook of International Law, American Journal of International Law, European Journal of International Law, Leiden Journal of International Law, Asian Journal of International Law, German Yearbook of International Law, Baltic Yearbook of International Law. He is the author of two monographs, including "Russian Approaches to International Law" (Oxford University Press, 2015).

About the Essex Public International Law Lecture Series

 The Essex Public International Law lecture series is founded, hosted and co-chaired by Dr Meagan Wong and Dr Emily Jones based in the School of Law. This is a weekly lecture series featuring judges of international courts and tribunals, leading academics, and practitioners of international law from governmental service, international organizations, and private practice from across the globe. The series prides itself on building on two important intellectual traditions of international law: formalism and international legal practice, and international legal theory including postcolonial and feminist perspectives. 

We welcome all students, academics, practitioners and legal advisors to join us. 

How to register

You can register here for the event which will be held on zoom.

For further information

Please contact Dr Meagan Wong, meagan.wong@essex.ac.uk and Dr Emily Jones, e.jones@essex.ac.uk.