Dr. Eveli Lume: Crash Course on Public International Law
As our IDR LL.M. program is mostly concentrated on the private business world of international commercial arbitration, the crash course on public international law (PIL) gave us a different perspective on matters and provided a helpful tool to connect the dots in the complicated realm of investment law.
During the course, we discussed foundational principles and sources of public international law, subjects of PIL, jurisdiction in international law, the law of treaties, the law of state responsibility and other related issues.
We also touched upon the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) with regard to general principles, definitions, and rules of interpretation, termination, and suspension. We considered different types of treaties, discussed the general principles in public international law as gap-fillers and non-binding legal instruments as well.
We examined the responsibility of states for internationally wrongful acts, explored the matter of attribution concerning the conduct of organs of the state, and distinguished between de jure and de facto state organs.
The lecturer also reviewed the circumstances precluding wrongfulness, such as countermeasures, force majeure, distress, necessity and the principle of full reparation.
In summary, the course was a good instrument for understanding the mechanisms and standards in investment law and arbitration.”
- Tamari Tsertsvadze, IDR LL.M. Candidate, Class of 2025/2026