TENDENCIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSULAR RELATIONS BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE CIS MEMBER STATES

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the Russian legislation applicable to the activities of Russian consular posts, as well as the legal framework of the CIS in the field of consular law. Particular attention is paid to the role of bilateral consular conventions in the development of consular relations between the CIS member states. The author identifies some general trends in the development of consular relations between the CIS member states in such areas as the procedure for performing consular functions, the legal status, the scope of privileges and immunities of consular posts and consular officers, etc. The author concludes that there is a tendency to expand consular functions, privileges and immunities at the level of bilateral agreements and national law. Such changes, although permitted under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963, create in practice some difficulties because of divergent positions of states on the scope of consular functions, the scope of immunities and privileges, granted to consular posts and consular officers, and on other issues.