Sanctions and measures in the international law: the challenge of codification and interpretation

The research analyzes the use of terms ‘sanctions’ and ‘measures’ in the sources of international law, their interchangeability, synonymous nature and right understanding. The author considers the UN Charter, the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council, the authoritative scientists’ attitudes towards the international liability. The relevance of the study is determined by the frequent identification of measures with sanctions when imposing restrictions and bans in relation to the international law violators or supposed violators. The author focuses on the problem of a public list of measures that can be taken by the UN Security Council to meet threats to international peace and security. This is complemented by the illegible use of terms and can lead to the uncontrolled oppression of a state or a group of states without having to justify the restrictions and bans imposed.