Associate Professor at St Petersburg University receives the Fyodor Martens Medal

The ceremony was attended by: Sergei Belov, Dean of the Faculty of Law of St Petersburg University; Vladimir Zapevalov, Ambassador-at-Large, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in St Petersburg; and Igor Demianenko, Plenipotentiary Envoy.

The medal was awarded to Vitaliy Ivanenko by Vladimir Zapevalov. ’Vitaliy Ivanenko’s work is recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the work of one of the best international lawyers in Russia today,’ stressed Mr Zapevalov.

Accepting the award, Vitaliy Ivanenko said: ’I am very pleased that my love for international law has manifested itself in such a high appraisal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.’ His interest in this field has developed into a real vocation and a beloved profession. Vitaliy Ivanenko has been working at the University for 28 years, and for more than ten years he was Head of the Department of International Law. The scholar is currently working on a book that is dedicated to the contribution of the University scholars to the development of the science and practice of international law.

In 1997, when Vitaliy Ivanenko was in Geneva at the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross, he proposed to hold a conference at St Petersburg University on international humanitarian law. It is a branch of law aimed at protecting people during wars and armed conflicts, minimising damage to civilians and limiting the methods for conducting wars.

The venue for the Readings was not a random choice. At the origin of humanitarian law was Fyodor Martens, a distinguished diplomat and lawyer, a scholar of international renown. He studied at St Petersburg University, taught and chaired the Department of International Law for more than 35 years. Thanks to Vitaliy Ivanenko, the Martens Readings have found a permanent venue at St Petersburg University. The conference has no analogues in the world and brings together scholars and practitioners from all over the globe, including representatives of international courts, international organisations, including the UN, UNESCO and the Red Cross (ICRC).

Vladimir Zapevalov, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted the contribution of Vitaliy Ivanenko to the promotion of the works of Professor Martens, as well as the work in the archives. This enabled a group of enthusiasts of the University and the Ministry to revive the memory of the outstanding scholar in St Petersburg. With Vitaliy Ivanenko’s involvement, the multi-year task of locating the burial place of the eminent scholar and restoring the tombstone was completed in October 2019.

In 2006, Vitaliy Ivanenko was elected Vice President of the Russian Association of International Law and Chairman of its St Petersburg branch. He is also a member of the Commission on International Law of the Association of Lawyers of Russia and a member of the Coordinating Council on International Law under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.