The scientific journal Moscow Journal of International Law, formerly the Soviet Journal of International Law, established in 1991, is published by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations is a high quality peer reviewed journal, and is one of the leading international law journals in Russia.
Moscow Journal of International Law since the very beginning has been bringing together scientists and practitioners from different countries. The Editorial Council and Editorial Board include prominent scholars and high-level policy makers from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Uzbekistan and other states. The Journal has published articles written by more than 700 authors from Russia, the CIS countries, Canada, the United States, Greece, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Laos, France, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, India, Germany, Great Britain and other countries.
Yury M. Kolosov, a Soviet and Russian lawyer, expert in International law, launched the initiative of establishing a periodical called ‘Soviet Journal of International Law’ (‘Moscow Journal of International Law’ since 1992) in 1990. The journal united international law publicists from the former soviet countries. Yury M. Kolosov worked as the main editor of the periodical until the last day of his life.
Yury Mikhailovich Kolosov was born on September 7th, 1934, in the Syas’stroy town of the Volkhov Region, Leningrad Oblast’. Yury M. Kolosov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR in 1959 and obtained his PhD in law in 1966 with the thesis ‘Criticism of the Reactionary International Legal Concepts in International Space Law’ written under the academic advising of Alexander S. Piradov. Ten years later Yury M. Kolosov was awarded doctor’s degree in law for the thesis ‘Issues of International Law in Usage of Space Equipment for the Purposes of Mass Media’. Dr. Kolosov was granted the academic rank of professor in 1982 and that of Merited Scientist of the Russian Federation in 1995.
Yury M. Kolosov proceeded with his diplomatic service in the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR in 1964. He was a member of Soviet and Russian delegations to the UN General Assembly sessions and various diplomatic conferences. Yury M. Kolosov participated in negotiations on the establishment of the INMARSAT as well as work of the Joint Consultative Group on the Reduction in Conventional Forces in Europe. Dr. Kolosov became a member of the Permanent Chamber of Arbitration in The Hague in 1990. Prof. Kolosov was a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child from 1991 until 1999 and a member of the UN Committee on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights from 2002 until <...>. Yury M. Kolosov was awarded a certificate of merit by a decree of the Presidency of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR for his longstanding diplomatic service. He was granted the diplomatic rank of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Envoy of the 2nd class by a decree of the President of the Russian Federation.
The scope of expertise of Yury M. Kolosov comprised practically all areas of international law. Prof. Kolosov is well-known for his contribution to the development of such areas of international law as international space law, international law of mass media, protection and promotion of human rights, international air law. Apart from that, Prof. Kolosov explored theoretical issues of international law. His monograph ‘Battle for the Peaceful Space. Criticism of the Bourgeois Theories of Space Law’ was published in 1968. His following publications include ‘Battle for the Peaceful Space. Legal Issues’ (1984) and ‘International Space Law’ (1984, Gennady P. Zhukov and Yury M. Kolosov being the main authors of the book which was published in English in New York). The textbook ‘International Space Law’ edited by Gennady P. Zhukov and Yury M. Kolosov appeared in 1999. The monograph ‘Mass Media and International Law’ was published in 1974. The book ‘New International and Information Order and the Issue of Sustaining Peace’ (in co-authorship with Boris A. Tsepov) appeared in 1983. Among works recognized by the scientific community is the monograph ‘Responsibility in International Law’ published in Moscow in 1975 (the monograph was further translated and published in Bratislava in Slovak). Yury M. Kolosov was a co-editor of several source-books of documents with commentaries, such as ‘USSR and International Cooperation in the Area of Human Rights’ (1989) and ‘International Humanitarian Law’ (1995).
Prof. Kolosov was the head of the MGIMO University International Law Department from 1987 until 2005. His priority at the time was to elaborate fundamental manuals on international law. The textbook ‘International law’ under the editorship of Yury M. Kolosov and Valery I. Kuznetsov was published in 1994. The manual ‘International Law’ of the MGIMO University under the editorship of Yury M. Kolosov and Emiliya S. Krivchikova appeared in 1999 and was republished in 2003 and 2005. During the years 1996 and 1997 Prof. Kolosov and Prof. Krivchikova were working on the first sourcebook of documents ever published in Russia in three volumes under the title ‘Positive International Law’. The abridged editions of the sourcebook in 1 volume and 2 volumes were published thereafter. Yury M. Kolosov was an academic advisor to more than 30 Candidates of Sciences, including those from foreign states. He was granted the title of ‘Merited Professor of the MGIMO University’ by a decree of the academic board of the university in 2006. Prof. Kolosov was awarded the ‘Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 200 Years’ anniversary medal and MGIMO University ‘Honoris Causa’ medal.
Yury M. Kolosov was a member of several international associations in the area of space research, an active member of the International Academy of Astronautics since 1985 and a member of the International Space Law Institute since 1980.
