A geopolitical entity deprived of full or partial international diplomatic recognition, but possessing all other signs of statehood (population, control over territory, system of law and administration, actual sovereignty).

The term “unrecognized states” began to be actively used in the early 1990s. In some cases, the terms “de facto countries”, “disputed countries”, “seceded” or “self-proclaimed” states, etc. are also used.

Republic of South Ossetia

The republic arose after the armed Georgian-Ossetian conflict that began in December 1990 after the decision to abolish the South Ossetian Autonomous Region. The referendum held on January 19, 1992 almost unanimously supported the declaration of independence of South Ossetia. May 29, 1992 The Supreme Council The Republic of South Ossetia adopted the Act of State Independence, after which mixed Russian-Georgian-Ossetian peacekeeping forces entered South Ossetia.

The republic is also recognized by Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Nauru. Tuvalu recognized the independence of South Ossetia in September 2011, but withdrew its recognition in March 2014.

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Armenian self-name - Artsakh)

It began in February 1988, when the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO) announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan SSR.

On September 2, 1991, a joint session of the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Council and the Council of People's Deputies of the Shahumyan region proclaimed the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) within the borders of the former NKAO and the Shahumyan region.

Official Baku recognized this act as illegal and abolished the autonomy of Karabakh. The armed conflict that followed lasted until May 12, 1994, when a ceasefire agreement came into force. As a result, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and several surrounding areas. Since 1992, negotiations have been ongoing on a peaceful resolution of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France.

Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija

It has been under the control of the UN administration since the summer of 1999, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

The UN administration and international KFOR forces under NATO command were brought into the region after 78 days of bombing of Serbia by NATO aircraft. NATO intervened in the Kosovo conflict (1998-1999) on the side of local Albanians seeking independence from Serbia.

The Albanian authorities of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, with the support of the United States and a number of EU countries, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia and the creation of the Republic of Kosovo. Independence was supported individual countries peace.

By December 2009, the self-proclaimed state was recognized by 63 countries. Serbia, as well as Russia, China, India and a number of other countries refused to recognize the independence of the region.

Also among the unrecognized states are often the Republic of Somaliland, Tamil Eelam (in Ceylon), and the Islamic State of Waziristan, whose independence was proclaimed in February 2006 on the territory of northwestern Pakistan. Occasionally, Kashmir, Western Sahara, Palestine, Kurdistan and some other territories (for example, exotic Sealand) are mentioned in the same context.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Unrecognized and partially recognized states

There are many different states on our planet. Even preschoolers know about this. But there are a number of states that are unrecognized or partially recognized. Many have heard about such formations and have even been there, for example in Abkhazia. They have their own territory, power, state symbols, some even have their own currency, the population has its own passport. But despite all the signs of statehood, UN members either partially or completely do not recognize such countries. But let’s not delve into politics; it’s better to take a closer look at the list of unrecognized and partially recognized states.

List of partially recognized states.

1. Abkhazia

We all know the sunny country that broke away from Georgia in the 90s. In 1994, the Constitution of Abkhazia was adopted.

Russia

Nicaragua

Venezuela

Nauru

South Ossetia

2. South Ossetia

The situation is similar to Abkhazia, only there are much fewer tourists here. South Ossetia has been virtually independent since 1991.

The following states recognized their independence:

Russia

Nicaragua

Venezuela

Nauru

Abkhazia

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic

Lugansk People's Republic

Donetsk People's Republic

3. Palestine

A state in the Middle East whose independence has already been recognized by most UN member states. Palestine itself is an observer state at the UN. Accordingly, it is in conflict with Israel.

The following states recognized their independence:

Recognized by approximately 70% of the UN member states.

4. Kosovo

According to the Serbian Constitution, Kosovo is part of Serbia as an autonomous region. In fact, it has been an independent state since 2008.

The following states recognized their independence:

More than 100 countries recognize Kosovo's independence.

5. Republic of China

In fact, this is the well-known island of Taiwan plus several small islands. They consider themselves independent from China since 1911. Despite its geopolitical position, the Republic of China has economic ties with almost the entire world.

The following states recognized their independence:

It is recognized as independent by 20 UN member countries, mainly South American and island states.

6. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Many people have been to Cyprus, but not everyone knows that there are two states on the island. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has considered itself independent since 1983 and is an observer to the Organization of the Islamic Conference. If you are in Cyprus, look here too.

The following states recognized their independence:

Türkiye and... everything

7. Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

It's Western Sahara. Since 1976 it has been independent from Morocco and Mauritania. Before this, this area was generally a Spanish colony. The republic is a member of the African Union. It has its own currency - the Saharan peseta.

The following states recognized their independence:

Almost a third of UN member states recognize the independence of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, mainly countries in Africa and the Middle East

List of unrecognized states.

1. Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

Since 1991 they have been independent from Azerbaijan. Military conflicts still flare up, which still does not interfere with visiting Nagorno-Karabakh for tourism purposes. There is its own currency - the Karabakh dram, but due to the small issue, the circulation here is mainly the Armenian dram.

2. Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic

Or Transnistria, which is familiar to us all. Since 1990, they separated from the Moldavian SSR. Just like Nagorno-Karabakh, it has its own currency, but here it is in use. The famous Kvint wine and cognac factory, by the way, is located right here.

3. Donetsk People's Republic

Since 2014, they consider themselves to have separated from Ukraine due to political crisis. Ukraine considers these territories occupied by Russia, whose currency is mainly used here.

4. Lugansk People's Republic

See "Donetsk People's Republic"

5. Somaliland

Somalia declared its independence in 1991. They have their own currency, the Somaliland shilling, and political relations with a number of European and African countries.

6. Va

An unrecognized state without clear borders on the territory of Myanmar.

7. Shan

Another fragment on the territory of Myanmar. The areas that the Shan state considers its own are practically not controlled by it.

8. Waziristan

Consisting of North and South Waziristan unrecognized state, located in Pakistan.

I would like to note that in Somalia there are such formations as Jubaland, Himan and Heb, Avdaland and Galmudug. In fact, these are autonomous small territories, often at war with each other.

Thus, there are a considerable number of unrecognized and partially recognized states in the world. Their number is constantly changing, so it is difficult to say exactly how many there are. Also, some sources include various communities of people, tribes, military and terrorist organizations, including ISIS.

UN member states not recognized by at least one UN member state Non-UN member states recognized by at least one UN member state States that are not members of the UN and are recognized only by states that are not members of the UN States that are not members of the UN and do not have recognition

Unrecognized and partially recognized states- polities that have declared themselves sovereign states and have such signs of statehood as the presence of a name (indicated as official), attributes (state symbols), population, control over territory, governance system (including leadership, authorities, often armed forces) and rights (including a constitution and other organizational documents), but at the same time do not have diplomatic recognition, and their territory is usually regarded by UN member states as being under the sovereignty of one or more UN member states. Unrecognized and partially recognized states may be characterized by states that do not recognize them and/or international organizations as separatist entities, breakaway regions or occupied territories.

Often these polities are united general concept « unrecognized states", however, such a designation is not entirely accurate in cases where such a polity has received a certain diplomatic recognition (even if insignificant) - in this regard, the category is distinguished partially recognized states, which include polities that do not have the opportunity to join the UN, but are recognized as states by UN member states (although there is also a narrower definition this concept), thus, their participation in international relations is limited by the legal field of the states that recognize them.

Although the United Nations as such does not have the right to recognize or not recognize states, UN membership in modern system international relations has become the most important symbol of universal recognition of statehood, a kind of “gold standard” of international legitimacy. At the same time, a state can be considered as internationally recognized even if it is outside the ranks of UN member states (like Switzerland until 2002). In addition, a number of UN member states are not recognized by some other UN member states.

Unrecognized states should be distinguished from virtual states - entities proclaimed by states, which, however, do not have the necessary characteristics of states.

The emergence of unrecognized and partially recognized states

The main way for the emergence of unrecognized and partially recognized states is the unilateral (that is, contrary to the will of the central authorities of the state) separation of part of its territory from the state. Necessary elements for achieving secession include the presence of a separate community threatening to secede from the state of which it belongs, a geographical territory within which the separatists intend to proclaim a separate state, the presence of a political leadership of this group that makes secessionist demands and organizes actions aimed at separation of the territory, as well as the disagreement of this community with the prevailing order of things in the country, motivating it to advocate appropriate changes. An additional factor may be timing: separatists prefer to begin the struggle for secession in conditions of weakness of the central power of the state (especially during acute internal political struggle in him). As a rule, separatists encounter resistance from the center, which seeks to preserve the state in its previous form, including with the use of armed force (which, however, may be a response to the actions of the separatists). A special case of uncoordinated secession is the seizure by a foreign state of the territory of another state, with the creation of a new protected (or even puppet) state on the occupied territory; similar formations(due to their “aggressive origin”) face almost insurmountable difficulties in obtaining recognition - like other entities generated as a result of an “illegal act” (in particular, among the “birth defects” of secessionist states that particularly prevent their recognition include, in addition to external aggression, and the implementation of discriminatory policies, as in the case of Rhodesia).

Although most often secession is aimed specifically at the formation of an independent statehood, in some cases independence is not an end in itself: for example, some communities seek to secede from one state in order to join another.

Along with self-proclaimed states of secessionist origin, there are also “non-secessionist disputed states”, which - even if they have some recognition - are not considered to have separated from the “ big country". Thus, at the end of the civil war in China, the People's Republic of China was proclaimed, but as a result of the war, its control was established not over all of China, but over its continental part, while Taiwan and a number of adjacent islands remained under the control of the Republic of China, which represented China in the UN until, and after that actually being a partially recognized state. Both governments consider themselves to be the governments of all of China, and the opponent is considered "rebellious territories"; in fact, in this case the question is not so much about recognition of the state, but about recognition government, although in the case of direct declaration of independence from China, Taiwan would become a classic, “secessionist disputed state.”

Properties of unrecognized and partially recognized states

First of all, unrecognized and partially recognized states have a territory, the boundaries of which are the limits within which the power of the government is exercised. The boundaries of this territory do not necessarily have to be “finally settled”, however, these boundaries (at least their status) are controversial in one fundamental aspect: since the statehood of these polities is not recognized, accordingly, their borders are not recognized as a legal and legitimate delimitation with By other states, on the contrary, the territory of unrecognized and partially recognized states is widely considered as an integral part of internationally recognized states.

In addition, unrecognized and partially recognized states have a population. At the same time, on the one hand, there is a widespread opinion that the mere presence of a population in a certain territory is not sufficient and the government of a self-proclaimed state must come to power on the basis of “local potential” and “have popular support” (although this criterion does not postulate either support for secession everyone population of the territory nor the presence of a democratic system in the self-proclaimed state). On the other hand, there is an opinion that the question of population support for secession from a large country “is more of a political than legal nature.”

Governments of unrecognized and partially recognized states may well meet the criterion of effectiveness in the matter of control over their territory and its population, but their right to govern is also not recognized, which directly follows from the non-recognition of their declared statehood; Having actual, “empirical” statehood, the disputed state does not have “legal statehood” provided by external recognition. By definition, the sovereignty (independence) of unrecognized and partially recognized states is controversial. As a rule, they have full interior sovereignty, removed themselves from the “external” constitutional field and enshrined this independence in their constitutions, but internationally recognized states dispute their right to create and maintain their own institutions of power, separate from the original states. .

In addition, often the requirement of “efficiency” is associated not simply with ability self-proclaimed government to control its affairs, but in order to that's what it really did, that is, it had real independence. The absence of such (most often in the case of the creation of a self-proclaimed government as a result of external aggression, but also in other cases of a puppet state or the provision of imaginary independence of territory by the “former” metropolis, in which the “former” sovereign actually retains his power over it), as indicated. is a significant obstacle to the recognition of the territory as an independent state.

Unrecognized and partially recognized states usually have the ability and desire to enter into a standard set of relationships with full-fledged states, but by their non-recognition they do not give them the opportunity to fully participate in them.

Unrecognized and partially recognized states of our time

List of unrecognized and partially recognized states

Unrecognized states

	self-name of the state	chronology of events
1990	Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic	(c) - an unrecognized state proclaimed on part of the territory of the Moldavian SSR. In the east it borders with Ukraine, in the west with Moldova. The PMR authorities consider the republic to be the legal successor of the Moldavian ASSR, which existed from 1924 to 1940 as part of the Ukrainian SSR, despite the fact that the former borders of the MASSR and the present borders of the PMR do not coincide. In addition to the left bank of the Dniester, the PMR also includes a small territory on the right bank, annexed to the republic in the early 1990s. Several villages of the republic, both on the right and left banks of the Dniester, declared by the PMR authorities as part of the PMR, are controlled by the Moldavian authorities. The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is recognized by the partially recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
1991	Nagorno-Karabakh Republic	(c) - an unrecognized state proclaimed within the borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO), as well as the adjacent former Shaumyan region of the Azerbaijan SSR, within these borders it was an enclave within the Azerbaijan SSR. The Martakert, Martuni and Shaumyan districts of the NKR are partially controlled by Azerbaijan. NKR, in turn, in addition to most of the territory of the former NKAO, completely controls the territories adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia and Iran. Thus, the republic borders on Armenia in the west, Azerbaijan in the north and east, and Iran in the south. Recognized by partially recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldavian Republic.
1991		(c) is an unrecognized state located in northwestern Somalia. On May 18, 1991, the northern clans declared the independence of the Republic of Somaliland, which included 5 of the 18 administrative regions of Somalia. Controls most of the claimed territory of the former British Somaliland.
2014		. According to Ukrainian legislation, the territory of the Donetsk region controlled by the DPR is considered temporarily occupied by Russia. Ukraine is considered a terrorist organization. In turn, the DPR authorities consider the western part of the Donetsk region, which is controlled by Ukraine, as their own territory. June 27, 2014 by South Ossetia.
2014		(c) is an unrecognized state that was proclaimed during the political crisis in Ukraine. According to Ukrainian legislation, the territory of the Luhansk region controlled by the LPR is considered temporarily occupied by Russia. Ukraine is considered a terrorist organization. In turn, the LPR authorities consider the northern part of the Lugansk region, which is controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, as their own territory. On June 18, 2014, independence was recognized by the partially recognized republic of South Ossetia.

Partially recognized states

Controlling the claimed territory

year of independence	self-name of the state	chronology of events
1947	Azad Jammu and Kashmir	(c) - Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Free Kashmir) was proclaimed in October 1947 in protest against the unpopular Maharaja Hari Singh in Kashmir. It is recognized as independent only by Pakistan and is controlled by it. Formally, Azad Kashmir is not separated from the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir; according to the Indian Constitution, it is part of India.
1983	Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus	(c) - The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, proclaimed after the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish armed forces in 1974, declared its independence on November 15, 1983. On 1 May 2004, the territory of the TRNC was formally incorporated into the European Union as part of the Republic of Cyprus. Recognized only by Turkey, with which it maintains diplomatic relations. All other UN member states consider the territory of Northern Cyprus as part of the Republic of Cyprus, illegally occupied by Turkey.
1991	Republic of South Ossetia	(c) - Republic of South Ossetia - according to the Constitution of Georgia, the territory of South Ossetia is part of several regions of Georgia. On December 21, 1991, it declared its independence, which since 2008 has been recognized by 5 UN member states. Other UN member countries do not recognize the independence of South Ossetia. Georgia views South Ossetia as part of its territory illegally occupied by Russia.
1994	Republic of Abkhazia	(c) - The Republic of Abkhazia, according to the Constitution of Georgia, is an autonomous republic within this state; with the adoption of the constitution on November 26, 1994 - the republic declared itself sovereign state and subject international law. The state independence of Abkhazia has been recognized by 5 UN member states since 2008. Other UN member states do not recognize the independence of Abkhazia. Georgia views the territory of Abkhazia as part of its territory illegally occupied by Russia.

Controlling part of the claimed territory

year of independence	self-name of the state	chronology of events
1912	Republic of China	(c) - Republic of China, which controls the island of Taiwan and several small islands. After the Chinese Civil War in 1949, it lost diplomatic recognition. The UN seat was transferred to the People's Republic of China on October 25, 1971 by UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. Currently, diplomatic relations with the Republic of China are maintained.
1976	Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	(c) - The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is recognized as the 84th member state of the UN, as well as partially recognized by South Ossetia, and is a member of the African Union. Most of the country's claimed territory is controlled by Morocco.
1988	State of Palestine	(c) - The State of Palestine is currently recognized by the SADR. It is an observer state at the UN. Divided into two borderless parts: the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, and the West Bank, partly controlled by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) under the leadership of PNA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (who is also the president of the state).
2008	Republic of Kosovo	(c) - according to the constitution of Serbia, it is part of this state as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija. Based on Security Council Resolution 1244, the UN is under international governance. In 2008, Kosovo authorities declared independence, which is now recognized by 111 UN member states, as well as Taiwan, the Cook Islands, Niue and the Order of Malta. The authorities of the Republic of Kosovo do not actually control its northern part, inhabited by Serbs.

see also

Notes

1. Sometimes combined with the general term unrecognized states, many other notations are also used, such as self-proclaimed states , disputed states(eng. contested states), de facto states(eng. de facto states) within the framework of the declarative theory of statehood, breakaway territories(English: breakaway territories), pair-, quasi- And pseudo-states(English para-states, quasi-states, pseudo-states) within constitutive theory
2. Adoption at the UN requires the support of a state's application by the Security Council by a majority of 9 of the 15 members of the Council (and with the indispensable consent of all permanent members of the Security Council, or in any case the absence of objections from any of them) and a two-thirds majority of votes in the General Assembly ; the existence of such broad support essentially amounts to de jure collective recognition, which international community indicates its readiness to perceive the new UN member as a full-fledged state, with all due rights, duties and responsibilities, in the UN and beyond.
3. These include Armenia, Israel, the Republic of Cyprus, the People's Republic of China, the DPRK and the Republic of Korea
4. A common thesis is that “there must be a permanent strip of territory, undoubtedly controlled by the government of the proposed state,” but even this requirement was ignored in a number of cases - for example, Croatia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, recognized in 1991 in the context of the ongoing civil war did not have firm territorial control
5. Thus, the borders of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic are identical (correspond to the borders of the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic), however, from the point of view of the Republic of Abkhazia, the area separating Abkhazia from the territory controlled by Georgia is a state border, and from the point of view of Georgia, it is an administrative border

1. Ozhegov S. I., Shvedova N. Yu. Dictionary Russian language / IRYa RAS. M.: Az, 1992 - “Self-proclaimed, -aya, -oe (official). About the state: proclaimed itself sovereign, but not recognized by the world community.”
2. In a broad sense, this term may also include those polities whose right the goal of independent statehood is widely recognized, but in fact is not realizable, restrained by “external powers” ​​(including due to the lack of control over the declared territory). , p. 25; see also . In a narrow sense - only partially recognized states.
3. This term, however, more often refers to states that are recognized, but have lost the actual characteristics of a state (, p.). See also failed state, virtual state
4. , p. .
5. , p. : “93. Pegg offers the following definition of a de facto state: “de facto state exists where there is an organized political leadership which has risen to power through some degree of indigenous capability; receives popular support; and has achieved sufficient capacity to provide governmental services to a given population in a defined territorial area, over which effective control is maintained for an extended period of time. The de facto state views itself as capable of entering into relations with other states and it seeks full constitutional independence and widespread international recognition as a sovereign state. It is, however, unable to achieve any degree of substantive recognition and therefore remains illegitimate in the eyes of international society.” Pegg, International Society and the De Facto State, p. 26. Others have essentially concurred with this assessment. As John McGarry has stated, “De facto states are a result of a strong secessionist bid, on the one hand, and the unwillingness of the international system to condone secession on the other.” They are regions which carry out the normal functions of the state on their territory, and which are generally supported by significant proportions of their population. They are not ‘de jure states’, because they are not sanctioned by the international order. Instead, other states and inter-state organizations, such as the mis-named United Nations, continue to recognize the authority of the state from which the secession occurred, even though its writ no longer runs in the breakaway region, and though its authority is rejected by the region's population." McGarry, "Foreword", p. x".

The phenomenon of unrecognized states and the problem of their international legal status

On the political map of the world over the past 100 years, more than a hundred unrecognized states have existed or still exist, which were proclaimed on the territory of almost 60 countries. Some existed and now exist de facto, but are not fully recognized by the international community, while others are recognized, but do not have their own territory. The problem of unrecognized states is one of the most pressing political problems in the world today.

So what are unrecognized states by definition?

Unrecognized states are the general name of state entities that, although possessing all the signs of statehood, do not have international recognition and cannot act as a subject of international relations.

Unrecognized states can be classified by the self-proclaimed governments' control over the claimed territory, the degree of their international recognition, and the reasons for their self-declaration.

Recently, the phenomenon of “partially recognized states” has appeared in the world, i.e. recognized by at least one of the UN member countries. Their appearance is associated with the practice of using “double standards” by some members of the world community in solving the problem of unrecognized states. The “danger” of this problem is the contradiction between two fundamental principles of international law: “the territorial integrity of the state” and the “right of the people to self-determination.” And at present, some sovereign states are “abusing” these principles in order to solve their own political and economic problems.

Based on the above-mentioned problems and contradictions in determining the status of unrecognized states, it is possible to assume: if all the unique features of a state formation, all the historical and political features of its emergence are taken into account, then it will be possible to determine whether it has the right to be called a sovereign member of the international community.

How do unrecognized states arise?

Conventionally, they can be divided into 4 groups:

1) states formed as a result of revolutions and civil wars (for example, in Somalia).

2) states formed as a result of separatism, including self-proclaimed states - those that declared their independence with a special declaration (almost all post-socialist unrecognized states).

3) states formed as a result of the post-war division (R. Korea - DPRK, PRC - ROC Taiwan, etc.)

4) as well as states that arose due to the independence of the colonies from the mother country.

1. Some of the unrecognized states that exist today appeared before the 1980s of the last century for various reasons. Currently there are 4 such states:

Republic of China Taiwan (since 1949), State of Palestine (formally by UN decision - since 1947, declaration of independence - 1988), Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (since 1976) and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (since 1983 G.)

2. The turn of the 1990s can be considered a new stage in the formation of modern unrecognized states. - the period of collapse of the socialist federations - the USSR and Yugoslavia (SFRY) and related ethno-territorial conflicts (examples - the Republic of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Transnistria; the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (until 1999); Serbian Krajina and Republika Srpska (until 1995 city); and the Republic of Kosovo). Initially, the international community proclaimed the priority of the principle of “inviolability of borders,” but subsequently some countries moved away from this.

3. Also, de facto existing unrecognized states arose in connection with the civil war that began in 1988 in Somalia. As a result, 2 types of such states were formed: The first declared the goal of achieving independence (Somaliland, Northland, Jubbaland), the second declared the creation of “autonomous states” with their subsequent inclusion in the united “Somali Federation” (Puntland, Maahir, Galmudug, South- Western Somalia).

4. Individual self-proclaimed states arose during civil wars, and are now actively using terrorist attacks and criminal “basis” for their existence. These included Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka, Waziristan in Pakistan, and the Shan and Wa states in Myanmar.

Often self-proclaimed states cease to exist as a result of military special operations - like the Republic of Serbian Krajina ("dead" as a result of a military special operation by Croatia in 1995) or the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (which ceased to exist de facto after the second Chechen war of 1999-2000).

At present, as already noted, so-called “partially recognized states” have emerged, that is, those that are not recognized by the world community as a whole, but are recognized by individual UN member countries. And although cases of “selective” recognition were observed earlier (ROT Taiwan, recognized by 22 UN member states and the Vatican; SADR - Western Sahara, recognized by 48 UN states and 12 countries that “frozen” recognition; State of Palestine, recognized as independent 111 UN member countries, but not having the opportunity to join the UN), the most chronologically close precedent in the recognition of self-proclaimed states can be considered the recognition of Northern Cyprus by Turkey in 1983, and the recognition of the Republic of Kosovo by a number of countries on February 17 is the most recent precedent. 2008

Since February 17, 2008, the Republic of Kosovo has been recognized by 70 states, and since August 26, 2008, the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been recognized by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.

Similar processes of “partial recognition” continue to this day.

What is international legal recognition of states?

In the theory of international law, it is usually understood as a unilateral voluntary act of a state in which it declares that it considers another state as a subject of international law.

There are two theories of recognition in international law: constitutive and declaratory.

The constitutive theory is that only recognition gives the recipient of recognition the corresponding quality: to the state - international legal personality, to the government - the ability to represent the subject of international law in interstate relations. Recognition has legal-forming significance: only it constitutes (creates) new subjects of international law. Without recognition from a group of leading states, a new state cannot be considered a subject of international law.

The declarative theory is that recognition does not convey the corresponding quality to the addressee, but only states its appearance and serves as a means of facilitating contacts with him. In other words, recognition is declarative in nature and is aimed at establishing stable, permanent international legal relations between subjects of international law. That is, recognition only states the emergence of a state, and it does not matter how many countries recognize it.

There are also two forms of official recognition: de facto and de jure

De facto recognition is characterized as incomplete, it expresses uncertainty that a given state or government is sufficiently durable or viable. It may, in principle, entail the establishment of consular relations, but is not mandatory, while de jure recognition is complete and final. It necessarily entails the establishment of diplomatic relations. In any case, the establishment of diplomatic relations is considered to mean de jure recognition.

De jure recognition is complete and final. It presupposes the establishment of international relations between the subjects of international law in full and is accompanied, as a rule, by a statement of official recognition and the establishment of diplomatic relations.

At the present stage of development of international law, it should be noted that the institution of recognition is not codified: it is formed by a group of international legal norms (mainly customary) that regulate all stages of recognition of new states and governments, including the legal consequences of recognition. International treaties contain only individual rules on recognition.

How should any country behave towards unrecognized states if it strives to remain within the framework of international law?

Firstly, she has every right to recognize or not recognize the neoplasm. The state itself determines the validity and forms of recognition. This should happen taking into account one’s own interests and the requirements of real politics.

Secondly, it is unacceptable to interfere in the process of self-determination, much less resort to armed aggression.

In this case, Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia fits well into this policy. For this, Russia, in addition to formal law, also has compelling political reasons.

1. First of all, the humanitarian rights of the population, including Russian citizens, should be ensured.

2. In addition, it is necessary to prevent instability at our borders. To do this, it is necessary to give official status to their governments, which have already been legitimized to some extent in the international arena.

Conclusions:

In order to recognize one or another self-proclaimed state as a full-fledged member of the international community, any sovereign country must proceed from the fact that in this case it has the full right to recognize or not recognize such an entity. That is, legally, from the point of view of equal rights of peoples, this is not only a right, but also an obligation. Any state must itself analyze the real parameters of the statehood of a self-defined new entity, determine the validity, varieties, forms of recognition, etc.

And all this should happen taking into account one’s own interests, objectives, real policy requirements, in the context of this specific current situation with an unrecognized state

The problem of unrecognized states interests me from the point of view of international law. Having studied this topic, I came to the conclusion that any sovereign country must be guided by its geopolitical and geo-economic interests when deciding the issue of “recognition” or “non-recognition”, the requirements of real politics, and act in the context of this specific current situation with an unrecognized state.

And in this regard, Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is, in my opinion, completely justified.

List of modern unrecognized states in scientific publications quite big7. It includes: the Transnistrian Moldavian Republic (PMR), the Republic of Abkhazia, the Republic of South Ossetia, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh), the Republic of China on Taiwan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Kosovo. Often added to this cohort of “seven unrecognized” are the Republic of Somaliland, Tamil Eelam (in Ceylon), and more recently the Islamic State of Waziristan, whose independence was proclaimed in February 2006 by Pashtun militants (supporters of the Taliban) in northwestern Pakistan . Occasionally, South Sudan, Kashmir, Western Sahara, Palestine, Kurdistan and some other territories (for example, exotic Sealand8) are mentioned in the same context.

The existence of unrecognized states of the European periphery is directly related to the processes of disintegration Soviet Union and Yugoslavia and a number of ethnic armed conflicts of the 1990s, which have still not received their political settlement. The unrecognized states of the European periphery are small territorially, their population is small even by European standards. The clear leader among unrecognized states in these parameters is Kosovo, whose leaders today control an area of ​​11,000 square meters. km with a population of about 2 million people. Ethnic Albanians make up a significant majority in the region, Serbs, Croats, Hungarians, Turks, Roma and other ethnic minorities - up to 100 thousand people9.

Transnistria controls a territory of 4,163 sq. km, where 555.5 thousand people live. Abkhazia occupies an area of ​​8,600 sq. km with a population of 250 thousand people. Only 146.6 thousand people live in Nagorno-Karabakh, who manage to hold a territory of 11,000 sq. km, taking into account the six occupied regions of Azerbaijan10. South Ossetia has a territory of 3,900 sq. km, a population of 70 thousand people11. This is the smallest of the unrecognized states.

Moreover, three of the four named states (with the exception of Transnistria) are geographically located outside of Europe: they are located on the southern side of the Caucasus ridge, separating Europe from Asia. On this basis, the Transnistrian conflict can be attributed to the sphere of the European periphery, and the other three to the European borderland zone. It is advisable to study unrecognized states in the context of the conflicts that gave rise to them. This approach allows us to minimize the costs associated with analyzing the prospects for the development of such state entities, while maintaining the context of the phenomenon under study. Considering an ethnic armed conflict, the product of which is one or another independent state, it is possible to identify the characteristics of each situation and predict the prospects for changing the status of an unrecognized state. Combining the capabilities of neo-institutional analysis and conflict theory creates the foundation for a new interpretation of the processes of institutionalization of ethnic confrontations and expands the range of analytical tools for the comparative study of individual examples of unrecognized states.

Based on the analysis of a number of materials and empirical data devoted to this problem, it is reasonable to highlight several main parameters for a comprehensive consideration of the phenomenon of an unrecognized state. Among them are:

– the history of the emergence of an unrecognized state entity, a description of the ethnic conflict and the main stages of its development;

– the effectiveness of the negotiation process, mediation, peace plans;

– formation of statehood and economic complex of unrecognized state entities;

– features of the political system, the degree of its democracy;

– the presence or absence of real opportunities for the return of an unrecognized state entity to the state from which it separated;

– chances for existence as an independent state;

– the interest and ability of external forces to change or preserve the status of an unrecognized state entity.

When taking into account the listed parameters, one can count on a more or less accurate understanding of the problems of each unrecognized state. Unrecognized states can be classified on various grounds. The key criterion for recognition of unrecognized states is control over their territory. According to this indicator, they can be divided into four ideal types. The first is unrecognized states with full control of their territory (Waziristan, Transnistria, Somaliland12, Northern Cyprus). The second is unrecognized states that partially control their territory (Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Tamil Eelam, South Ossetia). The third is an entity under the protectorate of the international community (Kosovo, which is legally part of Serbia, but has actually been administered by the UN administration since 1999 on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244). The fourth is quasi-states (ethnic groups that have not received the right to self-determination) that control enclaves of compact settlement of their ethnic group (Kurdistan, located in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria). The concept of “unrecognized state,” as already noted, is conditional. In fact, partially recognized states are usually included in this cohort of state entities. Thus, according to the criterion of recognition of sovereignty, one can distinguish between actually unrecognized states (Kosovo, Transnistria) and partially recognized states (Taiwan), some of which exist under conditions of military occupation (Western Sahara, Palestine). Taiwan has diplomatic relations with twenty-six countries around the world, Northern Cyprus is recognized by Turkey. The lack of recognition of a state by the international community negatively affects its legal status and operational capabilities. Such a state is incapable of active economic activity, cannot enter into trade contracts and implement multilateral investment and infrastructure projects. The unrecognized state relies only on humanitarian assistance from the international community, social and cultural projects; cooperation with various countries and regions is in its infancy. Therefore, its existence and development directly depend on the political and legal recognition of a territory.

The unrecognized states of the European periphery and borderlands have existed for quite a long time: Kosovo - nine years, Abkhazia, NKR, South Ossetia - sixteen, Transnistria - eighteen years. The prospects for a change in status (recognition of independence, irredent, forceful takeover, return to a single state through conflict resolution) are different for all territories.

Kosovo has the greatest prospects in terms of possible transformations of its existing status. We are talking about gaining independence in one form or another, since the United States and the European Union are interested in this. Apparently, Serbia will only be able to delay such a decision or negotiate for itself some political and economic concessions (integration of Serbia into the EU or division of the territory of Kosovo).

Abkhazia, Transnistria and South Ossetia can count on partial, incomplete recognition by Russia, but their future prospects are far from obvious. Such “semi-independence” will not be recognized by the United States, the European Union, India, China and many other states.

In Transnistria and South Ossetia, the possibilities of obtaining formal independence are less realistic for a number of geopolitical and organizational-territorial reasons. In the case of the PMR, Russia still has great opportunities to revive the strategy of unification of Moldova and Transnistria. South Ossetia appears to have a strong economic case for reunification with Georgia.

Nagorno-Karabakh has the least chance of changing its status. This situation is mainly determined by the position of the United States, EU countries, Russia, Iran and Turkey. They are generally interested in maintaining the status quo in the conflict zone, and the political possibility of territorial exchange, which could open the way to a political settlement, remains insignificant.

List of unrecognized states

Partially recognized states with actual control of their territory:

Republic of China (Taiwan), which controls the island of Taiwan and several smaller islands. Following the Chinese Civil War in 1949, it lost diplomatic recognition and its UN seat to the People's Republic of China on October 25, 1971 by UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. Currently recognized by only 23 states. Taiwan actually carries out diplomatic relations through its so-called. economic and cultural representations (in fact, embassies).

Kosovo (since 2008) Located on the territory of Serbia (Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija). Based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244) is under international control. The UN does not recognize the Republic of Kosovo as the legitimate government of Kosovo. Currently recognized by 43 countries.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is located in the northern part of Cyprus and was formed after the invasion of Cyprus by the Turkish armed forces in 1974. It declared its independence in 1983. In 2004, its territory was actually included in European Union as part of the Republic of Cyprus. Recognized only by Turkey and unrecognized Abkhazia.

Unrecognized states with actual control of most of their territory:

Territories of the former USSR:

Transnistria (since 1990) in Moldova.

Abkhazia (since 1992) in Georgia is a self-proclaimed and virtually independent state; it is not officially recognized by any state. Located between the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea, it is legally part of northwestern Georgia. The government of Abkhazia does not control eastern part Kodori Gorge, located in the northeast of Abkhazia, this area is under the control of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

South Ossetia (since 1991) in Georgia.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (since 1991) is an unrecognized state entity declared within the borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO) and the adjacent Shaumyan region of the Azerbaijan SSR. The regions of NKR - Martakert, Martuni and Shahumyan are fully or partially controlled by the Azerbaijani authorities.

Territory of Somalia:

Somaliland (since 1991). Located in northwestern Somalia. In May 1991, the northern clans proclaimed the Independent Republic of Somaliland, which includes 5 of the 18 administrative regions of Somalia.

Puntland (since 1998) in Somalia.

Galmudug (since 2006) in Somalia.

Maahir (since 2007) in Somalia.

Northland (since 2008) in Somalia.

Waziristan in Pakistan.

Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka.

Partially recognized states under military occupation

West Sahara, for the most part which is actually controlled by Morocco. Saharan Arab democratic republic, which governs the rest, is recognized by 48 states and is a member of the African Union.

The Palestinian state is recognized by a number of Arab and Muslim states, as well as Russia.

Partially unrecognized states:

Israel is not recognized by the majority of Arab and Muslim states (currently 24, relations with 4 states are suspended), but is recognized by Egypt, Jordan and Turkey.

The People's Republic of China is not recognized by states that recognize Taiwan.

Cyprus is not recognized by Turkey.

North Korea is not recognized by South Korea.

South Korea is not recognized by North Korea.

The Czech Republic is not recognized by Liechtenstein.

Slovakia is not recognized by Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein is not recognized by the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

2. Origins of the conflict in Kosovo

The origins of the conflict between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo in 1998-1999 lie at the end of the 14th century.

For centuries, Albanians have strived to create their own state, and objectively three forces stood in the way of its creation: Turkey, which controlled the territory of their residence until 1912; Serbs, whose interests extended to Kosovo and Macedonia, partly inhabited by ethnic Albanians; and Italy, which has repeatedly tried to gain a foothold by military means on a coast so close to it. It is worth recalling: after the defeat of Austria-Hungary in the First World War, Italy, which fought on the side of the Entente, demanded the return of its historical region of Dalmatia, where a significant part of the population were Croats. Not wanting to cede this territory, the Croats chose to unite with the linguistically related Serbs into a single state, later called Yugoslavia.

The idea of ​​the need to exercise the right of self-determination for the Albanian people first appeared in the form of a demand for the creation of a special Albanian vilayet (region) during the Ottoman Empire. The Albanians were Turkey's main weapon in suppressing the freedom and national movements of Christian peoples in the Balkans who were fighting to recreate their national state.

As a result of the Balkan Wars at the beginning of the century, Turkey's hegemony in the Balkans was ended. Albanians created their own state. In 1913, the Republic of Albania received international recognition. Kosovo was annexed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Serbia still considers these lands to be its own, but the Albanians cannot agree with this.

After Albania declared independence in 1921, its territorial claims against Serbia not only remained, but also intensified. Since the mid-30s, Albania has also become a testing ground for the strategic interests of Germany and Italy. During the Second World War, fighting on the side of the fascist occupiers, Albanians continued terror against the non-Albanian population, which in fact can be equated to genocide.

After the Second World War, Kosovo received broad autonomy within Serbia, which in turn was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The 1946 Constitution recognized Slovenes, Croats, Serbs, Macedonians and Montenegrins as nations.

Certain political groups of the Albanian national minority persistently seek the separation of Kosovo and Metohija from Serbia and, for this purpose, are increasingly openly resorting to non-recognition of the legitimate authorities, violence and terrorism. They need international support, first of all, to create the “Republic of Kosovo” as a transitional solution, and then - “Greater Albania”, which is their real goal and which, in addition to a significant part of the SR Yugoslavia (and Serbia and Montenegro), would include parts of Macedonia and Greece.

In Kosovo, extreme and aggressive Albanian nationalism is manifested, accompanied by a demographic explosion and attempts only by the logic of large numbers to realize the right to realize the separatist goal - the withdrawal of the territory of Kosovo and Metohija from the state territory of Serbia and its subsequent annexation to Albania. At the same time, it is forgotten that more than 200,000 Serbs left this territory under the pressure of Albanian terror, and in their place, only from 1945 to the present day, settled from 350,000 to 400,000 people who fled from Albania. Thus, for a long time, the ethnic structure of the population in Kosovo was forcibly changed, conditions were created for the Albanians to appear on the international political stage demanding that they be given a separate state.

In socialist Yugoslavia, great attention has always been paid to federal relations. Yugoslavia was proud of its achievements in the field of interethnic relations. The country's leadership was especially sensitive to 25 ethnic groups, national minorities, which even began to be called in a new way - nationality. The country published 150 newspapers and magazines in the languages ​​of national minorities. In the province of Kosovo there were 904 Albanian primary and 69 secondary schools and a university. Each decade brought a significant expansion of autonomy rights.

After World War II, Kosovo received the status of a national region within Serbia. In 1963, Kosovo became an autonomous region. However, cases of clashes between Albanians and Serbian police are becoming more frequent. The fight against Albanian dissidents is entrusted to the Yugoslav State Security Directorate (analogous to the KGB in the USSR).

There is a massive emigration of Albanians, including to Turkey.

In 1974, with the adoption of the new Serbian constitution, Kosovo was guaranteed broad autonomy rights.

Albanian newspapers and Albanian television appear. Albanian becomes the official language, the main positions are occupied by Albanians

The 1974 Constitution gave the region such broad powers that it actually became an independent subject of the federation. Representatives of Kosovo were members of the country's collective governing body - the Presidium of the SFRY.

The autonomous region had equal rights with other republics, except one - he could not separate from Serbia. Kosovo has been trying for many years to achieve republican status, dreaming of creating a unified Albanian state. Dreaming of creating a unified Albanian state in the Balkans by unifying all the lands where Albanians live, Kosovo has been striving for many years to achieve the status of a republic. They believed that this would make it possible to raise the question of self-determination and secession from Yugoslavia

For the past 20 years, Albanians in Kosovo have refused to participate in the census. Therefore, data on their numbers vary. According to some sources, in 1981 the population of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo was 1,584 thousand people, of which 1,227 thousand were Albanians, or 77.4%, and Serbs? 209 thousand, or 13.2%. The Albanians themselves believe that there are about 2 million people in the region. According to today's data from the Statistical Office of Yugoslavia, there are about 917 thousand Albanians in the region, or 66%. Serbs, Montenegrins and those who consider themselves Yugoslavs number 250 thousand.

In 1981, an anti-Serb uprising broke out in Kosovo. A state of emergency was introduced in the region, but the central Serbian government failed to normalize the situation. Over the next eight years, mass protests by Albanians were repeated several times.

The ongoing process of ousting residents of Serbian and Montenegrin nationalities from the region has become the most important indicator of the crisis. According to newspapers, the Serbian population had dropped to 10% by 1991.

The leadership of Serbia in the 80s. used different methods of struggle: martial law and curfew were introduced; new economic programs were developed to solve the “problems of Kosovo”, which included overcoming the isolation of the region, changing its economic structure, strengthening the material basis of self-government; political attempts were made to form unity on a class rather than national basis.

However, to achieve positive result failed.

When over Eastern Europe The “wind of change” caused by the processes of perestroika in the USSR blew, the West sharply increased support for all anti-socialist and nationalist forces capable of weakening the ruling communist regimes.

In the spring of 1989, the central authorities of Yugoslavia, fearing the growth of separatist sentiments among Kosovo Albanians, actually abolished the autonomous status of this region. In May 1989, Milosevic was elected Chairman of the Presidium of the Socialist Republic of Serbia

The ineffectiveness of searching for a way out of the crisis led the Serbian leadership to the conviction that only centralization of power and the abolition of certain powers could stabilize the situation. In Serbia, a campaign was launched for the legal, territorial and administrative unity of the republic, for the reduction of the rights of the autonomous regions. The threat to say goodbye to dreams of a republic brought 40 thousand Albanians onto the streets of Pristina, the regional capital, in January 1990. Angry, protesting, ready to fight for their rights, they posed a threat to the stability of Serbia and even Yugoslavia. This happened at a time when inconclusive disputes over the future of the federation allowed Slovenia and Croatia to openly talk about independence. Everything happened against the backdrop of a crisis that affected all spheres of life and power structures. Military units and police officers brought into the region tried to maintain order in Kosovo by force. This resulted in clashes and casualties.

The Serbian Constitution adopted in 1990 reduced the legal status of the region to territorial and cultural autonomy, depriving it of all elements of statehood. As a sign of protest, Albanians began a campaign of civil disobedience: parallel power structures were created (underground parliament and government), Albanian teachers refused to follow the new school curriculum and began teaching the Albanian school curriculum underground. The Albanian University also studied underground. As a result, the entire region was divided into two parallel societies - Albanian and Serbian. Each had its own power, its own economy, its own education and culture. The official economy was undoubtedly dominated by Albanians, using private firms and private capital. Only Serbs were represented in the political structure, because Albanians boycotted the elections. In September 1991, amid the collapse of the Yugoslav Federation, Kosovo Albanians declared independence and created the Republic of Kosovo. In May 1992, they held presidential and parliamentary elections. The writer Ibrahim Rugova became the president of the unrecognized republic. Naturally, Belgrade considered all these actions illegal. Dual power has developed in Kosovo. The Albanians did not recognize the power of Belgrade, and the Serbs did not recognize the Kosovo Republic.

In the summer of 1991, Yugoslavia began to fall apart. The dissolution of the Yugoslav Federation was carried out in violation of its Constitution. This very quickly led to ethnic confrontation and wars in Croatia and Bosnia.

Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia emerged from it and declared independence. Serbia and Montenegro remained part of Yugoslavia. At the time of the separation of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbs living there declared their desire to separate from them and join Serbia. Their attempt to create autonomous regions was not recognized by the governments of these two newly independent states. Then they began to fight and received help from Belgrade, which wanted to maintain a unified Yugoslav state or create a unified Serbian state. In this war, the West was against the Serbs. The war was brutal and accompanied by atrocities on both sides. During more than three years of fighting, about 300 thousand people died. In Europe, this was the bloodiest conflict since World War II.

As a result, the Bosnian Serbs achieved autonomy, but not unification with Serbia. The Serbs found themselves a divided nation on their historical land. And against this sad background for the Serbs, a real threat of losing Kosovo arose.

Have you ever wondered how the history of a state begins? Is it enough for the townspeople to just get together (and there are still cities in the world that consist of one city) and decide that that’s it, now we are citizens new country? This is what, for example, the citizens of the city of Fiume did, led by their ruler, the poet Giabriele D’Annunzio. But, either the ruler was too impractical, or the stars did not align, but after two years of existence, the Republic of Fiume capitulated. And in two years of “life” it was recognized by only one country in the world - the USSR.
And by the way, this is the meaning of our story - the state exists when it is recognized. Therefore, the future of all self-proclaimed states is debatable. Ten unrecognized and partially recognized states of our time, and their hard fate– in our TOP.

1 Republic of China (founded 1911)

The Republic of China or Taiwan are examples of how you can lose everything. Previously, it controlled the entire territory of modern China, but after the revolution in 1947, the country not only lost the entire mainland, but also its place in the UN, as well as recognition of the majority of the organization’s members. Now the Republic of China is recognized by only 22 states from the UN list.

2 Free Kashmir (established 1947)

Free Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) became “Free” after ousting the ruler Maharaja Hari Singh and separating from India. The irony of the situation was given by the views of the ruler himself; he wanted to separate the state from India and prevent the seizure of the province by Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan is the only one to recognize Free Kashmir. In general, everything is as you wanted, but only without you.

3 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (established 1976)

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or SADR is one of the most “recognized” (59 UN member states) unrecognized states in the world. The state's problem is different: its closest neighbor, Morocco, categorically disagrees with this. Most of the SADR's territory is de facto controlled by Morocco, with less being a mixture of buffer zones, restricted zones and restricted areas.

4 Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (founded 1983)

1983 is famous not only because it is the year of birth of Alina Kabaeva. This year the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was also born - as a result of an armed attack by Turkey. As a result, only Türkiye recognized the newborn country, and this situation still remains.

5 Palestine (founded 1988)

Well, everyone knows about Palestine. This state managed to declare itself. Firstly, it keeps Israel firmly in suspense, and secondly, it is recognized by 137 UN member states. True, this did not deprive Palestine of internal problems. Now its territory is divided into two parts, controlled by different formations, and there are a lot of internal problems here.

6 Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (founded 1990)

Transnistria is a case when someone came to the rescue at the right time. One of the first “former” territories that realized that it is not necessary to go along with everyone else. But in reality, everything is not so “sugar” here. The state status of the PMR is recognized by Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh - countries in themselves with a very controversial status. And although the PMR has long wanted to join Russia, the latter is not taking this step.

7 Somaliland (founded 1991)

Somaliland is 5 of the 18 states of Somalia, where about a third of the country's population lives. The history of the newly created state is sad. Despite the fact that in 2003 99% of the population voted for the secession of Somalia, not a single state has yet recognized Somaliland as independent.

8 South Ossetia and the Republic of Abkhazia (year of establishment 1992 and 1994)

Why did we combine these two subjects into one issue? Yes, because both of them are pieces of Georgia (well, at least Georgia thinks so). However, a number of states, such as the Republic of Vanuatu and Nicaragua, led by Russian Federation, they are recognized. And of course they both recognize each other.

9 Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (founded 1991)

Nagorno-Karabakh is such a confusion of borders, controlled territories and interests of other countries that it is very difficult to understand all of this. However, this did not prevent three countries: the PMR, the Republic of South Ossetia and the Republic of Abkhazia from recognizing the country. True, they themselves are unrecognized, so this did not help the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

10 Republic of Kosovo (founded 2008)

The Republic of Kosovo, after declaring independence in 2008, is recognized by 110 UN member countries, as well as many unrecognized states. But this “piece” turned out to be too large, and Northern part Kosovo, with its Serbian population, does not recognize the Republic. In addition, Serbia, whose territory, in fact, was encroached upon by the Republic of Kosovo, is categorically against it.