Russia, the Arctic, Continental Shelf

Abstract

A substantial part of the Arctic coastline belongs to the Russian Federation. But the legislation in respect of the Arctic started to develop only in the beginning of the XX century. In the article the author profoundly analyses existing both international and domestic legislation of the Russian Federation in this respect, the positions of other countries with regard to this issue. Also the author touches upon the question of the sector theory and points out that it is one of the easiest to employ in respect of the icecovered spaces particularly in order to ascertain the sovereignty over the Arctic islands.
Further on the author analyses the nature of the title to the continental shelf and the Russian submission to the Commission on the limits of the continental shelf. In the article it is stated that there is no simple solution to this problem. Wide-scale research of the bottom of the Arctic Ocean is conducted by several countries; negotiations are on the way between the countries with Arctic coasts as to the possible delimitations between them.
The author concludes that Russia’s submission in respect of the Arctic continental shelf had been the first but not the last one. The other arctic states are in the process of adjusting the accepted norms and principles of international law to the new region. This experience can be used further on in other regions of the world.