Succession of State Territory

The article is devoted to the study of state territory as an object of succession of states along with other objects of succession, which include state territory, international agreements (treaties), state property, state archives, state debts, membership in international organizations, state borders. International law solves the processes of state-territorial changes through the institution of succession of states, which is one of the most complex political and legal problems of the modern world. The article analyzes the grounds for the succession of states. Attention focuses on the problems of succession of states in the context of territorial succession. It is substantiated that the territorial aspect of the succession of states is particularly relevant and problematic in the modern world. The importance of the institution of legal succession of states determines as one of the oldest in international law. This article examines the existing approaches to the definition of the concept of “succession of states”. It is emphasized that international law binds succession only with the change of territory, and the succession of states arises if there is a final and irrevocable replacement of the sovereignty of one state over a particular territory with the sovereignty of another state. The article researches the peculiarities of the institution of legal succession of states in the legal doctrine of Ukraine and national and international legal acts. The author of the article analyzes the content of the current normative legal acts of international and national law of Ukraine on the territorial aspect of the succession of states. It is specified that the international legal basis of succession of states is rather insignificant and extremely limited. The author emphasizes that territorial transformations and changes in the political map of the world will not bypass the 21st century because of the events taking place in Ukraine and the world. European integration processes and separatist movements only strengthen the urgency of the problem of succession of states, demanding the improvement of the mechanism of legal regulation. The author also presents promising directions for further scientific research on improving the legislative definition of the succession of Ukraine.