THE ROLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (CIS) IN ADDRESSING MERCENARISM: LEGAL FRAMEWORKS, COOPERATIVE MEASURES, AND CHALLENGES

Аннотация

This thesis investigates the Commonwealth of Independent States’ (CIS) efforts to address mercenarism—the recruitment, use, financing, and training of individuals for private gain in armed conflicts. It analyzes the CIS’s legal frameworks, cooperative mechanisms, and enforcement challenges through a combination of regional agreements, national legislation, and case studies. While the CIS has established significant anti-mercenary measures, its effectiveness is hampered by political divisions, enforcement gaps, and instances of state complicity. Recommendations are provided to strengthen its role in combating mercenarism. Key words: Mercenarism, CIS, PMC, legislation, armed conflicts Аннотация. В этой диссертации исследуются усилия Содружества Независимых Государств (СНГ) по борьбе с наемничеством — вербовкой, использованием, финансированием и обучением лиц для личной выгоды в вооруженных конфликтах. В ней анализируются правовые рамки СНГ, кооперативные механизмы и проблемы правоприменения посредством сочетания региональных соглашений, национального законодательства и тематических исследований. Хотя СНГ установило значительные меры по борьбе с наемничеством, их эффективность сдерживается политическими разногласиями, пробелами в правоприменении и случаями государственного соучастия. Даны рекомендации по усилению его роли в борьбе с наемничеством. Ключевые слова: Наемничество, СНГ, ЧВК, законодательство, вооруженные конфликты Introduction. Mercenarism poses a persistent threat to international peace and security, exploiting conflict zones for profit. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), established in 1991 after the Soviet Union’s collapse, unites post-Soviet states in addressing regional security challenges, including mercenarism. This thesis explores the CIS’s role in combating mercenarism by examining its legal frameworks, cooperative efforts, and practical challenges. It assesses these 77 NEW RENAISSANCE 2025 APRIL INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 4 efforts against international standards and provides a critical evaluation of their effectiveness, supported by case studies and reliable sources. Literature Review. Mercenarism is defined internationally under Article 47 of Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions (1977), which lists six criteria for identifying mercenaries.1 The 1989 International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries 2 criminalizes mercenary activities but suffers from weak enforcement due to jurisdictional and political barriers.3 Within the CIS, mercenarism is a pressing issue given the region’s history of ethnic conflicts and the emergence of private military actors.4 Scholars argue that while the CIS has developed legal tools to address mercenarism, their implementation is inconsistent due to political fragmentation and enforcement limitations.5 CIS Legal Frameworks on Mercenarism. The CIS has established a regional legal framework to combat mercenarism, complemented by national laws in member states. 1. Agreement on the Fight against Mercenarism (1995) The 1995 Agreement on the Fight against Mercenarism is the CIS’s primary legal instrument addressing mercenarism.6 It aligns with the 1989 Mercenary Convention and mandates member states to: - Prohibit the recruitment, training, and financing of mercenaries. - Collaborate in investigating and prosecuting mercenary activities. - Share intelligence on mercenary operations.7 The agreement also urges harmonization of national laws with its provisions.8 However, its effectiveness depends on member states’ willingness to enforce it. 2. National Legislation Many CIS countries have enacted anti-mercenary laws: - Republic of Uzbekistan: Article 154 of the Uzbekistan Criminal Code prohibits mercenarism, with penalties up to 10 years’ imprisonment9 1 Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977, Art. 47. 2 International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, 4 December 1989, UN Doc. A/RES/44/34. 3 Liu, H.-Y. (2015). *Law’s Impunity: Responsibility and the Modern Private Military Company*. Hart Publishing, p. 77. 4 Singer, P. W. (2003). *Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry*. Cornell University Press, p. 42. 5 Marten, K. (2019). "Russia’s Use of Semi-State Security Forces: The Case of the Wagner Group." *Post-Soviet Affairs*, 35(3), 181-204. 6 Agreement on the Fight against Mercenarism, 1995, CIS Doc. No. [specific document number if available]. 7 Ibid., Arts. 2-4. 8 Ibid., Art. 5. 9 Criminal Code of Republic of Uzbekistan. 01.04.1995 https://lex.uz/docs/-111453 78 NEW RENAISSANCE 2025 APRIL INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 4 - Russia: Article 359 of the Russian Criminal Code prohibits mercenarism, with penalties up to 15 years’ imprisonment