A technology of laser-induced coloration of metals by surface oxidation is demonstrated. Each color of the oxide film corresponds to a technologic chromacity coefficient, which takes into account the temperature of the sample after exposure by sequence of laser pulses with nanosecond duration and effective time of action. The coefficient can be used for the calculation of laser exposure regimes for the development of a specific color on the metal. A correlation between the composition of the films obtained on the surface of stainless steel AISI 304 and commercial titanium Grade 2 and its color and chromacity coordinates is shown.

The Russian state exercises sovereignty over its waters and has exclusive criminal jurisdiction with respect to crimes infringing on the security of oil, research or other stationary platforms in these waters, although their status may differ, for example, Lake Baikal; part of a continental water body (the Caspian Sea); marine internal waters (the Peter the Great Gulf); the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. Despite certain differences in status, all these waters are united by being part of the Russian territory. They differ from the waters that are not part of the territory of the state, but are above the continental shelf of the Russian Federation; these are the waters of the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation, and the open sea waters start beyond the 200-mile distance from the baseline. Even in the latter case, since a platform is stationary on the continental shelf of the Russian Federation, it is within the exclusive criminal jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. Counteraction to crimes infringing of the security of platforms fixed to the seabed includes a wide range of legal and organizational-legal measures. Besides, an important part is played by the special norms of international and national laws, including the criminal legislation of the state that has jurisdiction over the water body where a fixed platform is located. This article presents suggestions on improving Russian criminal legislation taking into account Russia's participation in the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf of 1988, other applicable norms of international law, the necessity to observe international law obligations and protect the national interests of the country. The authors suggest that unlawful acts of seizing a fixed platform or other violent actions infringing on the security of this object, the security of personnel operating it, aimed at forcing a state or an organization which is legally operating this object to perform or abstain form certain actions, and resulting in the intimidation of the population should be specifically included in the national criminal law as a separate type of terrorism crimes. The authors also recommend to add the norms on criminal liability for other unlawful, criminally punishable acts (which are not acts of terrorism and do not have the features of terrorism), including the attempts of illegal entry into a fixed platform or hindering its operation, to Chapter 24 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation «Crimes against Public Safety» as a separate Article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation among the norms regarding crimes that violate the security of the functioning of potentially dangerous objects (potentially dangerous operations). They recommend to use the most successful international legal experience to improve corporate acts within the framework of Russian legislation through the content specification of the scope and type of rights and obligations of business entities, including the relationships of the fixed platforms personnel with the law enforcement bodies with the purpose of a more effective inclusion of business entities in the system of measures of preventing and suppressing illegal interference in the functioning of fixed platforms in the Russian waters.

Introduction: the fundamental role of jus cogens principles in codification and progressive development of international law explains the lasting interest in researching its nature and formation mechanism. The analysis of the International Law Commission's work makes it possible to get an informative interpretation of jus cogens conception and to predict some contours of its future development. The purpose of the present article is to analyze different approaches towards the substance of peremptory norms of international law, its elements, outlooks for its future development, to consider the currently applied scientific methodology based on the actual materials of Special Rapporteur of the International Law Commission. Methods: systematic, historical, methods of comparison, interpretation; theoretical methods of logical and structural analysis; specific scientific methods. Results: the analysis of the norms of international law and doctrinal researches in the theory of international law and law of treaties leads us to the conclusion that further development of jus cogens conception could only be justified provided that it is of practical importance to the international community, facing absolutely new threats and challenges. Conclusions: there are no substantial grounds today for the essential progressive development of jus cogens conception; its codification consists primarily in rephrasing of the provisions of Vienna Convention; the nature of the peremptory norm of international law is determined by this Convention.

INTRODUCTION. The article analyses the sources of international law, national legislation of the Russian Federation, as well as that of certain foreign States regulating the operation of private military and security companies (PMSCs) in armed conflict. The article highlights the out-comes of the work of the UN Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups to study the activity of PMSCs and the impact it had on the observance of human rights. The authors further analyze the status of PMSC personnel under international humanitarian law. The article also looks at the positions expressed by the delegations of Member States during the discussion of the 2010 Draft Convention on Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) and provides recommendations for developing an appropriate international regulatory framework. The authors also examined State practice of the implementation of the The Montreux Document on Pertinent International Legal Obligations and Good Practices for Statesт Related to Operations of Private Military and Security Companies During Armed Conflict related to the operation of private military and security companies during armed conflict.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The article contains an analysis of the main sources of international law, the documents drafted by the United Nations International Law Commission, special rapporteurs and working groups on the matter, and State practice. It also addresses Russian and foreign legal scholarship. From a methodological perspective, this study relied on the general scientific (analysis, synthesis, systemic approach) and private legal methods of knowledge (formal-legal, comparative legal studies).RESEARCH RESULTS. Based on the study, it is argued that an international treaty should be adopted to regulate the activities of PMSCs, which would establish mechanisms to monitor and hold PMSCs and their employees legally accountable.

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