POLITICAL PROBLEMS, ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE THE WAR OF ‘SANCTIONS’ AND THE LAW OF INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY* By Yaroslav S. Kozheurov (Russia) Author PhD, Kutafi n Moscow State Law University, 2001 Associate Professor, Department of International Law, Kutafi n Moscow State Law University Email: abc646@mail.ru Abstract The article examines the legal nature of the so-called Ukraine-related sanctions in terms of the law of international responsibility. <...> The author concludes that the measures taken by a number of Western countries against Russia in connection with the events in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, as well as the reaction of Russia to those * The Author would like to thank Natalia Golovina (EL Teacher of English Language Department #1, Master's Degree Student of International Law Department of Kutafin Moscow State Law University) for language support and interest shown in the research undertaken by the Author. www.kulawr.ru Volume 2 October 2015 Issue 2(4) Yaroslav S. Kozheurov The War of ‘Sanctions’ and the Law of International Responsibility 307 measures, by their legal nature and content are not ‘sanctions’ in the understanding and in the context this term is mainly used in the modern law of international responsibility. <...> The fi rst part provides a brief description of the so-called Ukraine-related sanctions and the Russian response. <...> The author concludes that it is more preferable to use the term ‘countermeasures’ describing unilateral measures in the law of international responsibility. <...> The third part examines the lawfulness of countermeasures taken by a State other than an injured State. <...> Is there a ‘policeman’ of the international community? .322 V. Conclusions .327 Bibliography .329 I. INTRODUCTION The issue of the so-called unilateral sanctions was one of the leitmotifs of V St. Petersburg International Legal Forum 2015. <...> The problem of sanctions imposed by a number of Western countries and the reaction of Russia on that was discussed in different contexts in almost all sessions of the Forum. <...> Volume 2 October 2015 Issue 2(4) www.kulawr.ru 308 KUTAFIN UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW The consequences of sanctions with respect to subjects of private law were analyzed during the discussion on Extraterritorial Effects of National Legislation —Transnational Corporations’ Risks. <...> But, of course, the most fruitful and comprehensive discussion took place within the framework of the special <...>