The article “The Elusive Beauty of General Principles of Law Recognized by Civilized Nations” by Ilya Lifshits, Senior Partner at EDAS Law Bureau, has been published in Volume 3, Issue 3 (2025) of the HSE Journal of International Law.

The author examines the concept of “general principles of law” in light of the draft conclusions on general principles of law adopted on second reading by the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC) at its seventy-sixth plenary session in May 2025. The author focuses on distinguishing general principles of law under Article 38(1)(c) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice from customary international law under Article 38(1)(b). The article also presents illustrative examples of such principles, explores their role within the international legal order and addresses their relationship with the fundamental principles of international law.

The full text of the article is available on the website of the HSE Journal of International Law.

An abstract of the article has also been featured on the international legal portal International Law Reporter.