HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION MEMBERSHIP IN THE WTO AFTER THE INVASION OF UKRAINE

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the human rights implications of the challenges facing the WTO in connection with the international armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine and suggest possible ways to overcome them, as well as outline the range of arguments that can be used by states resorting to economic countermeasures, during the trade dispute settlement procedure. The author has reviewed the three key aspects related to the continuation of Russia's membership in the WTO, namely: (1) legal justification of restrictive trade measures (within sectoral and individual sanctions) through the use of security exceptions; (2) suspension or termination of Russia's participation in the WTO due to amendments to the Marrakesh Agreement; (3) adoption of WTO initiatives in the field of human rights protection in the context of political isolation of the Russian Federation. The research is critical in nature. It is conducted in the pragmatic paradigm through economic analysis of law (EAL). A combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches was used in the data analysis while case studies allow a detailed analysis of existing practice of the WTO DSB. The findings presented in the article should make an important contribution to the harmonization of international trade law and international human rights law and advance the progressive development of WTO law by potentially overcoming the existing legal gaps.