Grigory Tunkin
Encyclopedia
Grigory Ivanovich Tunkin (—1993) was a Soviet jurist
, diplomat
, Corresponding Member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (1974), and a Meritorious Scientist of the RSFSR (1972).
peasant family. Like his famous countryman, Mikhail Lomonosov
, Tunkin left for Moscow
to study sciences. Though, eventually, he became the leading international lawyer in the Soviet Union, Tunkin's interests were always multi-dimensional. He wrote his first dissertation on the history of law of the ancient world, spoke many languages fluently and was good at mathematics.
, Moscow (1935) and conducted post-graduate study at the same Institute from 1935-1938.
From 1939 to 1941, he was the Assistant Chief of the Legal Department of the NKID (Narodnii Komissariat Inostranih Del), or People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, the forerunner to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1941 to 1942, he was the Consul of the USSR at Kermanshah, Iran. The was the Counsellor and Chargé d'Affaires at the USSR Embassy in Ottawa (1942-1944), Chief of the First Far-Eastern Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR; Minister-Counsellor at the USSR Embassy at Pyongyang, North Korea (1949-1950); Chief of the First Far-Eastern Department (1951-1952) and Chief of the Treaty and Legal Department of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1952-1965).
While heading the Legal Department of the Foreign Ministry of the Soviet Union from 1957 to 1966, Tunkin was a member, and in 1961 President, of the United Nations
International Law Commission
. He led Soviet delegations to international conferences such as the first and second UN Conferences on the Law of the Sea (1958, 1960), USSR Delegation at the Antarctic Conference (1959) and the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations (1961).
From 1965, Tunkin was appointed professor and Chief of the Chair of International Law at Moscow State University
's Faculty of Law. Prof. Tunkin also served as the president of the Soviet Association of International Law from its founding in 1957 until his death.
and general theory of state and law (ТЕОРИЯ ГОСУДАРСТВА И ПРАВА) and more than 250 journal articles. His works (including all of his books) were translated into many languages, including English.
Tunkin's textbooks on international law formed the core of the international law curriculum in the USSR for over forty years. Following the dissolution of the USSR, his works have had lasting influence. In 2000, his major treatise Theory of International Law was republished in Moscow under the editorship of L.N. Shestakov (-2009), who succeeded him as the Chief of Chair of international law at Moscow State University.
Among Tunkin's other contributions, he served as a Member of the Curatorium of the Hague Academy of International Law
, as an honorary member of the Institut de droit international
. He received a doctorate honoris causa from Paris University (Pantheon-Sorbonne) and Budapest University, the USSR State Prize (1987) and the Encyclopedia Britannica Award (1990).
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, Corresponding Member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (1974), and a Meritorious Scientist of the RSFSR (1972).
Early life
Tunkin was born in 1906 in the far north of Russia into an ArkhangelskArkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
peasant family. Like his famous countryman, Mikhail Lomonosov
Mikhail Lomonosov
Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov was a Russian polymath, scientist and writer, who made important contributions to literature, education, and science. Among his discoveries was the atmosphere of Venus. His spheres of science were natural science, chemistry, physics, mineralogy, history, art,...
, Tunkin left for Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to study sciences. Though, eventually, he became the leading international lawyer in the Soviet Union, Tunkin's interests were always multi-dimensional. He wrote his first dissertation on the history of law of the ancient world, spoke many languages fluently and was good at mathematics.
Diplomatic career
Tunkin was a graduate of the Institute of State and LawInstitute of State and Law
The Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences is the largest scientific legal center in the Russian Federation. The ISL is part of the Philosophical, Sociological, Psychological, and Law Department of RAS...
, Moscow (1935) and conducted post-graduate study at the same Institute from 1935-1938.
From 1939 to 1941, he was the Assistant Chief of the Legal Department of the NKID (Narodnii Komissariat Inostranih Del), or People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, the forerunner to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1941 to 1942, he was the Consul of the USSR at Kermanshah, Iran. The was the Counsellor and Chargé d'Affaires at the USSR Embassy in Ottawa (1942-1944), Chief of the First Far-Eastern Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR; Minister-Counsellor at the USSR Embassy at Pyongyang, North Korea (1949-1950); Chief of the First Far-Eastern Department (1951-1952) and Chief of the Treaty and Legal Department of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1952-1965).
While heading the Legal Department of the Foreign Ministry of the Soviet Union from 1957 to 1966, Tunkin was a member, and in 1961 President, of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
International Law Commission
International Law Commission
The International Law Commission was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 for the "promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification."It holds an annual session at the United Nations Office at Geneva....
. He led Soviet delegations to international conferences such as the first and second UN Conferences on the Law of the Sea (1958, 1960), USSR Delegation at the Antarctic Conference (1959) and the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations (1961).
Academic career
From 1946 to 1965, with several interruptions, Tunkin served as the Chief of the Chair of International Law at the Moscow Institute of Law, the High Diplomatic School (at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and taught as professor of international law at the Moscow Institute of International Relations (MGIMO).From 1965, Tunkin was appointed professor and Chief of the Chair of International Law at Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
's Faculty of Law. Prof. Tunkin also served as the president of the Soviet Association of International Law from its founding in 1957 until his death.
Contributions
Tunkin is the author of nine leading books on international lawInternational law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and general theory of state and law (ТЕОРИЯ ГОСУДАРСТВА И ПРАВА) and more than 250 journal articles. His works (including all of his books) were translated into many languages, including English.
Tunkin's textbooks on international law formed the core of the international law curriculum in the USSR for over forty years. Following the dissolution of the USSR, his works have had lasting influence. In 2000, his major treatise Theory of International Law was republished in Moscow under the editorship of L.N. Shestakov (-2009), who succeeded him as the Chief of Chair of international law at Moscow State University.
Among Tunkin's other contributions, he served as a Member of the Curatorium of the Hague Academy of International Law
Hague Academy of International Law
The Hague Academy of International Law is a center for high-level education in both public and private international law housed in the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands...
, as an honorary member of the Institut de droit international
Institut de droit international
The Institut de droit international is an organization devoted to the study and development of international law, whose membership comprises the world's leading public international lawyers...
. He received a doctorate honoris causa from Paris University (Pantheon-Sorbonne) and Budapest University, the USSR State Prize (1987) and the Encyclopedia Britannica Award (1990).