To what extent do imperial and Soviet legal traditions continue to shape today’s international legal order? And how do these historical frameworks influence contemporary understandings of statehood and sovereignty?
These questions lie at the heart of Professor Lauri Mälksoo’s (University of Tartu) latest monograph, Russia, the Soviet Union, and Imperial Continuity in International Law (Oxford University Press 2025).

On 27 April 2026, GRILI and the Ghent Legal History Institute are pleased to welcome Professor Mälksoo to our Faculty for an expert seminar on his new book. The event takes place within the framework of the FWO Senior Research Project ‘Soviet Approaches to Emergency’ and will be moderated by Dr Alina Cherviatsova.

Practical details:
• Timing: 18:30 – 20:00
• Location: Campus Aula, Universiteitstraat (Room 8.1)
• Registration is required through ‘this link’.

New publication out by GRILI-member, Yiannis Bamnios in Opinio Juris:

The article examines the legal risks of using mixed convoys—specifically those combining U.S. (a belligerent) and neutral naval escorts—to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s closure. Under the Law of Naval Warfare, only convoys composed entirely of neutral merchant ships escorted solely by neutral warships are exempt from visit, search, or attack. Any involvement of U.S. or other belligerent warships renders the entire convoy a lawful military target. The piece warns that proposed multinational escort arrangements could unintentionally forfeit neutrality protections and expose participating vessels to legitimate force.

Read the full article 'here'