Decision to protect Crimea’s Russian population, taken under complicated circumstances, marked an important tendency in Moscow’s understanding of the norms of international law, a member of the International Law Association of Russia said.

As Denis Dvornikov told PanARMENIAN.Net, for many decades, the dispute over the precedence of the nations’ right to self-determination versus territorial integrity was politicized, leading many negotiations to a standstill.

“After Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, political acknowledgement of Crimeans’ right to decide their own fate marked a clear tendency in the international law enforcement practice. Thus, Russia confirmed that at least in post-Soviet space, peoples’ right to self-determination takes precedence,” the expert said, noting that there are no premises for major hostilities in Ukraine.

“Same is true for Karabakh,” the expert noted. “In present-day situation, Russia is likely to recognize the Nagorno Karabakh Republic sooner than Armenia does. This is the reason why backing Crimeans’ right for self-determination at the oncoming forum will bring Kahabakh issue into focus, considering many historic similarities – Soviet leadership’s thoughtless transfer of aboriginal lands of one nation to another republic, lengthy struggle for independence and peaceful co-existence with neighboring countries,” Dvornikov noted.

“After the Crimea-related issues, time must come for unequivocal and uncompromising decisions on the Nagorno Karabakh. Otherwise, consistency and objectivity of Russia’s decisions will be questioned,” the expert concluded.