Manchmal das Recht brechen: Was bedeutet es, wenn ein ständiges Mitglied des UN-Sicherheitsrats wie Russland einem Nachbarland die Staatlichkeit abspricht und dort einmarschiert? Gespräch mit dem Völkerrechtler Michel Erpelding

Article for general public (2022)

The main purpose of this interview was to explain to the broader public in Luxembourg: 1. the legal implications of the Russian-backed secessions of Crimea (later annexed by Russia) and the Donetsk and ... [more ▼]

The main purpose of this interview was to explain to the broader public in Luxembourg: 1. the legal implications of the Russian-backed secessions of Crimea (later annexed by Russia) and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine, as well as Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine on 24th February 2022; 2. the historical context that explains how the post-WWII international order balances the principle of national self-determination with the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of states. Its second purpose was to raise awareness about: 1. the need for Luxembourg and the EU to show coherence when reacting to wars of aggression and annexations, which constitute the most egregious violation of international, regardless of which state committed the aggression and/or annexation (e.g. Russia in Ukraine, Israel on the Golan Heights inter alia, Morocco in Western Sahara); 2. the legal risks (both civil and criminal) for Luxembourg businesses that deal with goods from, or invest in, illegally occupied territories. [less ▲]