Political and legal status of unrecognized states in the modern world: historical and legal aspects (a case study of the Republic of Abkhazia)

Introduction: the international legal institution of the right ofpeoples to self-determination is an integral part of the formation basis for an independent state. In the conditions of integration of state legal institutions, modern political processes in the world set a task for researchers to consider the issue of the legal status of countries that still have the status of unrecognized republics. This problem is especially critical for the regions that withdrew their membership in the Soviet Union in the course of political and military conflicts and that are now seeking for the recognition of their sovereignty. Until the middle of the 20th century the process proceeded against the background of global military conflicts, then - in the context of the struggle with colonialism. Over the last three decades, it has been mostly associated with the collapse of totalitarian regimes in the world. Purpose: to study problems of formation of the unrecognized state in the aspect of historical, political and legal processes with the account of the changing global political environment for exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination. The modern search for the optimal form of self-determination ofpeoples, taking into account ideas of external and internal forms, predetermines the scientific analysis of the historical political and legal practice of establishing the statehood in the territories where enjoyment of the right of peoples to self-determination is problematic; the analysis is performed by the example of the Republic of Abkhazia. Methods: the methodological basis of the research is a systemic approach, which provides a holistic view of political and legal processes in the state. In addition, comparative, structural-functional and historical approaches have been used. Results: at the present stage of the statehood development, the Republic of Abkhazia has the status of being "unrecognized", which affects its political and legal structure, characterized by a mixture of traditional and modern state and legal institutions. The state and the law in Abkhazia largely depend on the geopolitical situation in the region and in the world, on the political systems of the nearest neighbors and strategic allies. A significant role in the formation of the Abkhazian statehood and legal system belongs to the Russian Federation, which is in the focus of Abkhazian governmental bodies' attention for the purpose of integrating into a unified economic, political and legal space. Conclusions: today, the state and legal system of the Republic of Abkhazia exists as a transitional type system, being in the process of its synchronization with the state legal system of the Russian Federation in accordance with the aim of building a sovereign state. The status of the unrecognized state makes it impossible for the Republic of Abkhazia to participate in the international processes in full and slows down the possible impact of the international legal institutions onto its state and legal system.