Collective Security Treaty Organization Research Articles

Current Approaches to Improving Consensus Decision-Making Mechanisms in International Regional Organizations

This study is aimed to study a key element of the activity of any international organization — the problem of consensus decision-making and the corresponding practice of solving it both in integration bodies (Eurasian Economic Union, European Union) and in interstate organizations devoid of a supranational component (Shanghai Cooperation Organization, North Atlantic Treaty Organization treaty, Collective Security Treaty Organization).Aim. Identify current approaches to improving the application of the rule of consensus in interstate (intergovernmental) structures and their bodies.Tasks. Investigate and generalize the practice of consensus decision-making within the international regional organizations, highlight actual ways to increase the efficiency of their decision-making mechanisms.Methods. The study used general scientific methodology. The comparative analysis method is used to compare existing decision-making practices. Analysis, synthesis, generalization, as well as the formal logical method were used to formulate the conclusions of the work.Results. The collective decision-making based on consensus follows from the international legal principle par in parem non habet imperium. It emphasizes the equality of all participants in an international organization and excludes the imposition of obligations non-approved by a sovereign state. From this point of view, consensus is a way to strengthen unity and achieve organizational stability. Simultaneously the practice of using this form in various international organizations gives evidence to its low efficiency in decision-making. Achieving consensus requires intensive efforts to coordinate the positions of the parties, and the emergence of “one-vote veto” situations cannot be ruled out. A possible way to increase the efficiency of decision-making within the framework of integration processes (EU, EAEU) lies through the development of supranational mechanisms.Conclusions. Analysis of the practice of functioning of international regional organizations (SCO, NATO, CSTO) allows to identify two approaches aimed at overcoming the negative features of consensus decision-making. The first involves the development of an international organization with formal obligations of members into a community associated with the establishment of a set of shared values among its participants. The second presumes the creation of mechanisms that allow interested states to use the institutions of such a structure to make collective decisions without a not-participating state. Both approaches do not exclude but complement each other.

Overcoming alliance dilemmas in the collective security treaty organization: signaling for reputation amid strategic ambiguity

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) bills itself as an alliance. It is seen as Russia’s hedge to NATO, yet it often acts in an inconsistent manner vis-a-vis its members when they face crisis situations. These situations are complicated by the fact that the alliance engages in a policy of strategic ambiguity without making a firm commitment to either side of a dispute. Since Russia often acts as a security guarantor on a bilateral level for these states, staying in the alliance may become counterproductive. In order to prevent defection of its members and assuage their fears of abandonment, while maintaining this unofficial policy of strategic ambiguity, and thus help the alliance patron, Russia, avoid entanglement, reassurances are needed. These reassurances come in the form of sunk costs, specifically joint annual military exercise, and the 2022 intervention in Kazakhstan. These sunk costs by the CSTO enhance its reputation for reliability, while maintaining its policy of strategic ambiguity. They reassure its members, assuaging their fear of abandonment, and keeping them invested in the alliance. This will be shown through the use of process tracing in a case study that examines an internal alliance dilemma with two of the organization’s members.

Attitudes of Labor Migrants from Central Asia to International Integration Organizations in the Post-Soviet Space

The article presents the results of a sociological empirical study that was conducted from May to August in 2023. Its purpose was to study the attitudes of labor migrants in Russia towards various international integration processes in the post-Soviet space. The objects of the study were workers from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, working in Moscow and the Moscow region. The choice of these countries is not accidental, as they are the main migration donors to the Russian Federation in Central Asia. The uniqueness of the research results lies in the fact that despite the certain “popularity” of such an empirical object as “labor migrants.” The analyzed subject has not yet been sufficiently developed theoretically and empirically. Particular attention is paid to the political preferences and migration attitudes of labor migrants. The issue of awareness of foreign workers of the activities of international integration and military-political associations, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), European Union (EU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and also the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is examined. The paper also presents the respondents’ assessment of the role of these associations in the development of international processes. Separately, the article examines the relationship between Russia and migrant-sending countries. Based on the results of the study, the authors conclude that respondents have a positive attitude towards integration associations in which Russia plays a key role. Moreover, the socio-political attitudes of foreign workers are characterized by a high degree of loyalty to the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. Migrants overwhelmingly support international cooperation between their countries and Russia and share the foreign policy position of the Russian Federation. In conclusion, labor migrants from Central Asia can be considered as a resource and capital of the influence of Russian “soft power.”

From the history of the defense policy of Kazakhstan Republic (1991-1997)

Relevance. Through specific archival and historical data, this research article describes the purpose of the Republic of Kazakhstan's defense policy, which is based on the goal of peacekeeping, which dates back to the country's early days of independence, the course, results, and historical significance of this activity. In addition, a description and analysis of the fact that this national-level action was carried out in a variety of ways. Purpose. The aims and objectives of the state's defense policy were established and authorized on a legal basis in the first stage. The training strategy for national military experts in several fields has been designed and accepted. The issue of the Armed Forces' contemporary equipment has been addressed and implemented. Methodology. From this period, the Republic of Kazakhstan began to work to ensure the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of the country, as well as to ensure stability and peace in Central Asia. In particular, the Republic of Kazakhstan became a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, founded by the CIS member states, and began to hold joint events. Results. In particular, cooperation in the field of joint defense with the Russian Federation was established and further developed. For this purpose, equal relations with the People's Republic of China have been ensured. From the first days of independence, the Republic of Kazakhstan has laid the foundation for multifaceted cooperation with the Republic of Turkey in this area. The work of the Republic of Kazakhstan carried out by mutual agreements of this content with the United States was remarkable. At the same time, attention was paid to the relations of independent Kazakhstan with NATO and its adoption was included in the “Partnership for Peace” Program. Conclusions. As a result of the concrete measures taken for this purpose, the capacity of the Armed Forces of the State has increased and has become a strong guarantee of the country's security.

Activities of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Central Asia (2002–2022)

   The article identifies the contribution of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Central Asia (CSTO) to the process of ensuring security in Central Asia. Conceptual approaches to the CSTO in the foreign policy of the Russian Federation and its allies in the region are analyzed. The documents of the CSTO are examined, as well as its practical activities to ensure regional security, prevent military threats, combat extremism, and terrorism and drug trafficking. The peacekeeping activities of the CSTO are examined. At the same time, an answer is given to the question why the CSTO did not deploy a peacekeeping mission at the request of Kyrgyzstan during the unrest in 2010, but responded to a similar request from Kazakhstan during the January events of 2022.

International Cooperation of Member Nations of the CIS on Counteracting Cybercrime

Cybercrime   is  the   threat  to  national  and  international  informational  security.  The  objects  of cyberthreats are economics security, critical information structure, information state sovereignty. All states admit necessity to take effective measures for anti-cybercrime in this time. Such organizations, as Commonwealth of Independent States, Collective Security Treaty Organization, Shanghai Cooperation Organization are to take active measures on counteracting cybercrime.Aim . The aim of this article is to define principal directions on effective counteracting cybercrime, including creation of law base on national, regional and international levels, measures for prevention cybercrime and development of international collaboration.Tasks.  There are following tasks in this article: to define “cybercrime”, categories of cybercrime and measures for prevention cybercrime, to analyze experience of member nations of the CIS and world law mechanism for cybercrime control.Methods.  There is necessity to define terminology in accordance with the international standards for cybercrime control.Results . Member nations of the CIS are giving important attention to creation the law base for national and international security, and also Criminal Law about responsibility for cybercrime.The Model Law “On counteracting cybercrime” was adopted by Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS on 14 Aprile 2023, which  is the base of development of national legislation in sphere of cybercrime control.On 30  July   2021 Russia was carry in General Assembly of the United Nations the Project of Convention United Nations Countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes for creation of international law mechanism for anti-cybercrime.In the result of this research author is defined cybercrime and it’s variety in accordance with international standards, and also principal directions of counteracting cybercrime in contemporary period.Conclusion. Implementation by member nations of the CIS of Model Law “On counteracting cybercrime” will allow unify national legislation and assist strengthening and extension international cooperation between these states on combating cybercrime.There is necessity to adopt such complex Federal Law “On counteracting cybercrime” and the Strategy on cybersecurity in Russia.

The South Caucasus as one of the priority geopolitical regions of the post-Soviet space for Russia: geographical analysis

The article is focused on identifying the properties of the territory of the countries of the South Caucasus / Transcaucasia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia), influencing Russian foreign policy. Based on an assessment of the geopolitical situation of the region and content analysis of the official document regulating the modern foreign policy of Russia “The Concept of Russian Foreign Policy” (2023), four groups of interests are identified: military-political, territorial, social, economic. Military-political interests are considered through the prism of countries' membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization and interaction with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Territorial interests are studied in the context of conflict that arose after the collapse of the USSR and associated with the need to legally determine the passage of state borders (in the Caspian Sea; delimitation of the Russian-Azerbaijani border; the formation of independent Abkhazia and South Ossetia; the formation of the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh). Social interests — from the point of view of the process of radicalization of Islam, the problem of “divided peoples”, de-Russification, economic migration of the population. Economic interests have been studied in a multidimensional way, both in the context of the influence of the transit status of countries on the functioning of transport systems in the region, and from the point of view of the distribution of Russian direct investment. In conclusion, it is emphasized that Russia and the countries of the South Caucasus remain part of the post-Soviet territory. The connection of their interests is largely of a conflicting nature, which is manifested both in integration processes oriented towards Russia and disintegration processes supported and actively used by other extra-regional states (Turkey, Iran, EU, USA). This, in turn, creates a geographical property of the region that it did not have during the Soviet period — transitivity. In the context of the reorientation of Russia's foreign policy and foreign economic activities towards Asian countries, it began to be used as the most effective tool to facilitate this process.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЯ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ И ПРОВЕДЕНИЯ АНТИНАРКОТИЧЕСКОЙ ОПЕРАЦИИ ОДКБ «КАНАЛ» С УЧЕТОМ НОВЫХ ВЫЗОВОВ И УГРОЗ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

The article is devoted to the problems of increasing the effectiveness of the use of new technologies for the operation «Channel», conducted with the participation of law enforcement agencies and special services of states that are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The authors focus on the current challenges and threats to the anti-drug security of the Russian Federation. It is also proposed to make fuller use of the capabilities of the financial intelligence units of the CSTO member states and the forensic units of law enforcement agencies during the operation «Channel», which have the necessary complex of special knowledge, as well as the automated information search system «AIPSIN-Anti-Drugs».

Agents, multilateral institutions, and fundamental institutional change in international society: The case of Russia’s peacekeeping policy

AbstractDrawing on recent debates in English School (ES) theory, this article develops an analytical framework for examining how states use multilateral institutions, or what ES theorists call ‘secondary institutions’, to reshape ‘primary institutions’, i.e. fundamental practices in international society. The framework highlights the role of states’ agency in international institutional change by shedding light on strategies that they employ to bring about changes in primary institutions. It posits that, although they can seek to directly remould primary institutions, states in practice often seek to bring about primary institutional changes through existing or newly formed secondary institutions and that this is especially the case at the level of regional international societies (RISs). The article demonstrates the utility of the framework by using it to analyse the case of Russia’s peacekeeping policy in the post-Soviet regional international society (PSRIS), focusing on its efforts to institutionalise the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as an alternative ‘peacekeeping’ actor.

Contractual Legal Framework for Military-Technical Cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation

The article deals with the contractual legal foundations of military-technical cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation. The features of the development of military-technical cooperation, events affecting the formation of its contractual legal framework within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the significance of cooperation are shown.

Problems of Ensuring Collective Security of the Post-Soviet Space in the Context of International Escalation

The relevance of this study lies in the need to study the potential effectiveness of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the conditions of the world order in the XXI century. The formation of the collective security system of the post-Soviet space was accompanied by a number of crisis processes determined by the post-bipolar era. Based on the results of the review of the activities of the CSTO institutions, the reasons for the insufficient effectiveness of the collective security system in the situation of modern international escalation are determined and further reformatting of the scope of competence and structure of the organization is predicted.

Formation of the Information and Psychological Security System of the Collective Security Treaty Organization

Formation of the Information and Psychological Security System of the Collective Security Treaty Organization

Quashing protests abroad: The CSTO’s intervention in Kazakhstan

ABSTRACT The Collective Security Treaty Organization’s military intervention in Kazakhstan in January 2022 quashed the unfolding nonviolent protest movement in the country. Nonetheless, the intervention raised few concerns with regard to the prohibition of the use of force in international law. Among states and scholars, the invitation issued by the Kazakh president was regarded as sufficient to justify the intervention. This article critically assesses this understanding. The intervening states limited the Kazakh people’s right to self-determination and violated protesters’ human rights. Against this backdrop, the authors develop an argument for why international law prohibits states from intervening in another state in order to quash nonviolent protest movements. While the intervention in Kazakhstan serves as the primary example, the argument also applies more broadly and is of particular importance as nonviolent protest movements have a central role in spreading democracy and advancing human rights.

2022 January Events and CSTO Peacekeeping Mission in Kazakhstan

In January 2022, Kazakhstan was faced with an attempt of a violent change of power in the form of mass protests that spread throughout the country and were organized with the basic techniques of color revolutions. The country’s own law enforcement forces were not able to cope with radical citizens, looters-rioters, and terrorists, and in these circumstances the head of state, K.K. Tokayev, decided to request the support of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) allies, who immediately sent the united peacekeeping troops to the republic. The CSTO peacekeeping mission, coordinated by Russia, successfully restored constitutional order in the country and prevented a violent coup d’état. The purpose of this research is to analyze the course of the January events and actions of the CSTO, as well as their impact on Kazakhstan, the region and the organization itself. The paper is based on interviews with experts from the CSTO member states, studies carried out in this area of research, and statements by official authorities. The synthesis of the research results is divided into thematic blocks and supplemented by the author’s conclusions. The paper mentions aspects such as the transition of power, changes in Kazakhstan’s domestic and foreign policies, the effectiveness of the CSTO organization and the expansion of its potential use. Proposals are also provided regarding the strengthening of defense integration and the need to develop a common regional identity. The research is unique in that it brings expert opinions from six CSTO member states, the results of studies carried out by researchers from Russia, Kazakhstan, and abroad, and the theoretical terminology of Western political ideology. The author presents the area of responsibility of the CSTO as a Eurasian security community based not only on collective security, but also on economic interdependence and a sense of community among the nations of its member states.

Collective security treaty organization

The collapse of the Soviet Union left behind an enormous territorial space, divided between 15 republics that declared their independence, forced to promptly respond to all challenges, especially those related to security, or the issue of ensuring the national security of the states always being the center of attention of the military and political leadership from all countries without exception. Thus, the states were faced with the choice, either to develop their own defense mechanisms, or to join forces to ensure their national security on a collective basis. This study aims to elucidate the premises and stages of the creation of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, as well as to analyze the role of this organization in terms of ensuring the collective security of the member states. At the same time, the objectives and principles governing the organization’s activity are presented.

Military intervention as a spectacle? Authoritarian regionalism and protests in Kazakhstan

Abstract Understanding the scope and the limits of cooperation of authoritarian regimes is important to assess their ability to support each other and strengthen authoritarian rule worldwide. While there is substantial evidence of authoritarian regimes working together to ensure mutual stability, autocracies are also notoriously mistrustful of one another. Therefore, they prefer to limit the assistance from other autocracies to rhetoric, to avoid the emergence of excessive dependencies. The conditions under which authoritarian cooperation goes beyond rhetoric, and even takes such extreme forms as military interventions, are insufficiently studied. The article investigates the case of the Collective Security Treaty Organization's (CSTO) intervention in Kazakhstan in 2022 as an example of an authoritarian regional organization sending a military mission to one of its member states. Using process tracing and carefully investigating the available evidence on the role of CSTO forces in Kazakhstan, we show that their intervention was more of symbolic importance than having an actual military role, and precisely for that reason it was acceptable to the leadership of Kazakhstan and other CSTO countries. The balance of power in central Asia (and in particular the role of China) ensured the credibility of commitment of the CSTO to keep its mission a symbolic one.

Незаконный оборот наркотиков в регионе ответственности государств – членов Организации Договора о коллективной безопасности как самостоятельный вид преступности

Introduction. The article provides criminological characteristics of drug trafficking in the region of responsibility of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (hereinafter referred to as the Organization, the CSTO). This characteristic reflects one of the main criminological problems - constantly growing drug trafficking, the source of which is the territory of Afghanistan. It is indicated that the Organization is an important actor of international law enforcement activities that counteract the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs of Afghan origin. The article reveals the peculiarities of drug trafficking in the region of responsibility of the CSTO member states.
 Methods. The methodological basis of this study was formed by such methods as formal-logical, sociological, statistical, historical and scientific interpretation of the crime model proposed by D.A. Shestakov.
 Results. According to the results of the study, the author proposes the concept of «drug crime in the region of responsibility of the CSTO member states» and indicates the danger of drug trafficking (drug crime) as a socio and legal phenomenon in this region. Based on the multilevel model of understanding crime («Shestakov funnel»), the author’s dynamic model of the «funnel» of drug crimes in this region, which consists of five levels and three trends, is proposed. The proposed model of drug crimes has a dynamic character and may vary depending on the period under review. The results of the study can also be used by law enforcement officers and scientists dealing with this issue. The identified features contribute to understanding the directions of preventive impact on the considered type of crime.

Cybercrimes: Concept, Сlassification, International Countering

Introduction . In the criminal law doctrine, in the legislative sources and internationally recognised official documents there exist different approaches to defining the concepts of “cyber criminality” and “cybercrime”, different nomenclatures and classifications of these criminal actions are proposed. These discrepancies negatively influence the efficiency of the fight against this type of crime. The transboundary nature of cybercrimes and interrelation between the information and telecommunication technologies and the information infrastructures (Internet) testify that efficient provision of cybersecurity is possible only on condition of the international cooperation in this field. This implies development of the unified approach to defining the cybercrimes concept and nomenclature and extension of cooperation between the countries in detecting, suppressing, solving and investigating the cybercrimes. The aim of the study is to define the concept of “cyber criminality”, to consider cybercrimes classification and to develop proposals for improving the legal regulation in the field of cybercrime countering. Materials and Methods . The object of the study is social relations in the field of cybercrime countering. In the course of the study, the legal methodology was used, including general as well as special scientific methods. Results . The article formulates the authors’ definition of the term “cyber criminality”, defines the theoretical and practical significance of the cybercrimes classification based on the grounds of such notions as: object of criminal encroachment; the subject of the crime; the method and means of committing the crime. Striving to enhance the cyber criminality countering efficiency, the concrete proposals are made to reform the Russian and the international criminal legislation, to establish international cooperation within the framework of the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), BRICS. Discussion and Conclusions . The conclusions, suggestions and recommendations formulated in the course of the study have certain theoretical significance as they can become the basis for further studies of the cyber criminality phenomenon in the frame of the criminal law and criminology, as well as have practical significance for improving the cybercrime countering practices and enhancing efficiency of the relevant criminal legislation.

Институциональные реформы в условиях этнокультурной разделенности и неконсолидированных границ: опыт Киргизии

The study investigated the role and the capacity of institutional reforms in mitigating chronic political instability in Kyrgyzstan, which often manifests itself in mass protests, ethnopolitical conflicts and border disputes. Combining macro-historical, macro-sociological and institutional approaches into a research framework allowed the authors to focus on such root causes of instability as ethnocultural divides and unconsolidated centers and borders. The analysis of the institutional reforms with pro-democratic and pro-authoritarian models led to the conclusion that with the current general lack of material and financial resources the political system responds rather weakly to any institutional changes while the expectations and orientations of the society are rather flexible. Thus, the situation suggests a rather pragmatic approach in strengthening the cooperation with Russia on bilateral basis as well as within such regional organizations as the Eurasian Economic Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Collective Security Treaty Organization rather than choosing a multivector foreign policy that is currently declared by the Kyrgyz elites.

On the role of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and ensuring security and support for Armenia as its signatory during the ongoing armed conflict with Azerbaijan

The article describes the conflict between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, two Caucasian states with the so-called the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan, inhabited and ruled for many years by Armenians. In addition to a more detailed approximation of the background of the conflict and the current role of international organizations in its resolution, the article discusses the circumstances of the creation and history of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which was established, among other things, to prevent and resolve conflicts among its signatories, including Armenia and Azerbaijan. The article makes a legal classification of Azerbaijan’s aggression against Armenia as a violation of the OBUZ treaty regulations and presents the legal consequences of this. It also contains a negative assessment of the current role of CSTO in settling the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and a negative assessment of the Treaty’s real capacity to fulfill its functions, especially in the light of the current international situation and the current political situation in Armenia.