Akimov M. Private Military (Security) Activity: Status and Prospects of International Legal Regulation

DOI:10.33098/2078-6670.2020.9.21.28-35

The purposeof thisarticleisstudy of the phenomenonofprivatemilitary (security) activity; itsmodernproblemshavebeenanalyzed, ways of solution have been suggested. Methodologyincludescomplexanalysisandgeneralizationofavailablescientifictheoreticalmaterialwithsubsequentformulationofrelevantconcludingobservationsandrecommendations. Thefollowingscientificmethodswereusedduringtheresearch:terminological, historical, logical-semantic, systematic-structural. Findings.Ithasbeenestablishedthatprivatemilitary (security) activityfrequently trench upon mercenarism. Severalstates’ concernmentintheirrole’sdiminishmentinarmedconflicts (withsimultaneousattemptstoextendcovertlytheirinfluence) isputtingadentoneffectivenessofmercenarismcounteraction by transformation of the latter into seemingly legal type of specific service industry. Thisinturnmakesimpossiblequickcessationofhostilities, ruinsthepeacemakingprocess, andunderminesthefoundationofactivityoftheUNastheworld most authoritative actor in the field of peaceful conflicts resolution. Thereforeitisaquestionofhighprioritytoimplementmeasurestoregulateprivatemilitary (security) activity by drafting and adopting the relevant international legal act. Originality.Theauthor’sdefinitionofprivatemilitary (security) activityhas been formulated; the grounds fordraftingofuniversalinternationallegalactto regulate it havebeensuggested. Practicalsignificance.Theresultsofthestudycouldbeusedinregulationmakingprocessduringdraftingandadoptingofinternationallegalactaimedtoregulateprivatemilitary (security) activity.

Keywords: privatemilitary (security) activity, mercenarism, private military (security) company, combatant, armed conflict.

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