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Remedial Secession under International law:

Analysis of Kosovo, Abkhazia and South Ossetia

by Sopio Asatiani

LL.M. Human Rights Thesis

SUPERVISOR: Charlotte Steinorth

Central European University

1051 Budapest, Nador utca 9.

Hungary

Central European University November 28, 2013

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

On 17 February, 2008 Kosovo declared its independence followed by the recognition from

the UN member states. Even though the text of the declaration referred to a special case, the

case renewed discussions on the principle of the remedial secession. The concept entailing belief

that the oppressed people have right to resort to secession as the remedy of last resort. Within

months after the Kosovos declaration of independence, the Russian federation recognized

independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia using the similar reasoning to that used in case of

Kosovo.

The thesis intends to provide systematic analysis of the existent sources of the International

law to deduct and assess the nature and legal value of the remedial secession as it stands

nowadays. The answer to major research question is based on the outcome of theoretical and

case-law analysis. Firstly, the remedial secession is deducted from the law on self-determination.

Later on, the treaty law ground is explored for detection of the traced of remedial secession.

Lastly, the state practice and opinion juris analysis is engaged to assess the existence of

customary remedial secession.

The case studies of Kosovo, Abkhazia and South Ossetia suggested that despite the major

advancement of the status of remedial secession, Kosovo still does not serve viable legal

precedent capable of altering customary international law on territorial integrity with allowing

remedial secession. Nevertheless case studies of Abkhazia and South Ossetia indicate towards

the need for change in the existent legal uncertainty surrounding the remedial secession.

Overall, in relation with the primary research question the thesis will argue that the remedial

secession is not yet established as principle of public international law.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Charlotte Steinorth for her kind

cooperation and guidance throughout the writing process. The comments and expertise of

Professor Steinorth were very valuable for my work.

I would also like to thank CEU Legal Studies department for granting me an opportunity to

conduct the comprehensive research for my thesis at the Peace Palace Library.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends for their continuous support and for the

motivation I aspire from them to study and work more and aspire my goals.

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Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 3

Chapter I. Right to self-determination .......................................................................................................... 5

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 5

1. Colonial Context of Self-determination ............................................................................................ 6

2. Modern Developments in the law of self-determination ................................................................. 10

2.1 Development of Self-determination as a Universal right ........................................................ 11

2.2 Internal Self-determination ..................................................................................................... 14

4. Territorial Integrity and Self-determination .................................................................................... 18

5. Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................................... 22

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 24

1. Remedial Secession and treaty law ................................................................................................. 25

2.2 Declaration on Friendly Relations and opinion juris .............................................................. 38

Chapter III. Remedial Secession and case of Kosovo................................................................................. 42

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 42

1. Historical Background of the conflict in Kosovo ........................................................................... 43

1.1 NATO involvement in Kosovo ............................................................................................... 46

1.2 International Administration in Kosovo.................................................................................. 47

2. ICJ Advisory Opinion on Kosovo ................................................................................................... 49

2.1 Separate Opinion of Judge Canado Trinidade ....................................................................... 51

2.2 Separate Opinion of Judge Yusuf ........................................................................................... 52

2.3 Dissenting Opinion of Judge Koroma ..................................................................................... 53

3. ICJ State Submissions on Kosovo .................................................................................................. 54

3.1 Submissions Supporting the Remedial Secession ................................................................... 54

3.2 Submissions opposing remedial secession .............................................................................. 59

Chapter IV. Influence of Kosovo on Abkhazia and South Ossetia ............................................................. 65

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 65

1. Historical Context of Abkhazia....................................................................................................... 66

1.1 International response to the conflict ...................................................................................... 68

1.2 Russian Role in Abkhazia ....................................................................................................... 71

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2. Conflict in 2008 and Current Situation in Abkhazia ....................................................................... 73

3. Historical Context of the Conflict in South Ossetia ........................................................................ 75

3.1 Rose Revolution and effects on conflict ................................................................................. 78

3.2 War in August 2008 ................................................................................................................ 79

4. Current Situation in South Ossetia .................................................................................................. 82

5. Legal Appraisal of the Conflict and Parallels ................................................................................. 83

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Introduction

The principle of territorial integrity and the sovereignty of states form foundations of the

entire international legal system. However, the latest developments or the human rights

approach towards the public international law does not and cannot simply leave it up to the states

to entirely define fate f its inhabitants. What happens when state abuses, commits gross human

rights violations targeting specific people within its territory? How could the people respond

to ongoing oppression and denial of representation? The answer to these questions seems to lie in

the concept of the remedial secession.1

While the idea of the secession as the means of last resort seems to be moral and ethical

corresponding to the needs of oppressed people the legal value of it remains controversial. The

rule is derived from the law on self-determination, which by itself is subject to a dispute. The

self-determination is no longer considered within limited colonial context but has attained the

permanent character fulfilled through peoples internal exercise of political, economic, social

and cultural rights.2 Nevertheless, the the external aspect or the self-determination, implying

the attainment of separation from the parent state, through remedial secession causes

disagreement. Even though, approach seems to accommodate the ultimate need of oppressed

people to remedy their condition, the notion unavoidably un