Two more events in the past fortnight have focused minds yet again on the endlessly vexed subject of the Russian state and the rule of law. The first, most visibly, was the decision of the international community (Europe and the United States, anyway) a fortnight ago to ramp up the economic sanctions in place against certain Russian organisations and individuals in the light of the deeply shocking destruction of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, and the deaths of its 298 passengers. The second, perhaps less noticed, but no less significant, was the award, just beforehand, of $50 billion in damages against Russia by the International Arbitration Tribunal at the Hague in the Yukos nationalisation case. Taken together, they must surely leave lawyers everywhere feeling a sense of duty and responsibility to put pressure on Russia, in any way available, to show that it truly respects the principle of the rule of law, clearly and unambiguously.
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