Comparative Analysis of Two Basic Principles of International Law - Territorial Integrity of State and Selfdetermination of Nations on Example of Kosovo and Abkhazia

Abstract

The main goal of the research is to analyze in details and present the two basic principles of international
law - the right to self-determination of nations and territorial integrity of the state on the example of the
Kosovo and Abkhazia conflicts. In particular, a significant part of the paper is devoted to the legal
assessment of the Kosovo and Abkhazian conflicts and revealing the main differences that are linked to
the legal aspects of Kosovo conflict, on the one hand, and the conflict in Abkhazia, on the other hand.
The article focuses on a detailed analysis of facts why the West, particularly North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) 3 involvement in the Kosovo conflict and recognition of Kosovo's independence by
the majority of the international community is partly legitimate and, on the other hand, from the
international legal and political viewpoints, Russia's involvement in the Abkhazian conflict and the
recognition of the so-called "independence" of Abkhazia has no legal basis at all. The final part of the
work discusses what the international community should do in the future regarding the protection of the
principles of international law.