Correlation Analysis of Formation of Russia's Military and Political Interests and Political and Legal Framework for the Use of Private Military Companies

Abstract

This article endeavors to conduct a political analysis of the perspectives held by the military and political leadership of the Russian Federation on the utilization of private military companies (PMCs) as instruments for advancing the nation's foreign policy objectives. It is ascertained that within the Russian academic discourse on national security, there prevails a consensus that the current system governing the state's military organization in the Russian Federation is inadequate for the demands of contemporary network-centric warfare. This system necessitates modernization, particularly to enhance the capacity to manage not only the Russian Federation's security apparatus but also civil society institutions and business resources. The analysis reveals that several strategic planning documents of the Russian Federation delineate the employment of both regular and irregular armed formations by the Russian government, including operations beyond national borders, to achieve foreign policy goals. A direct correlation is identified between legislative initiatives aimed at regulating PMC activities in the Russian Federation and significant milestones in the evolution of these entities. It is proven that all legislative measures concerning the regulation of PMCs in the Russian Federation have been reactive, likely intended to preempt potential negative public reactions to legally contentious situations, encompassing issues of social guarantees, accountability for crimes and misdemeanors, and more. The study demonstrates that the legislative regulation of PMC activities has deliberately lagged behind their operational realities in conflict zones, to avoid establishing official precedents that would integrate these entities into the state's military organization. In conclusion, given the stringent regulation of conventional armed forces at both national and international levels, availability of PMC resources provide means to circumvent international legal norms. The Russian Federation's military policy regarding the use of force conceptually allows for the delegation of state responsibility for escalating conflicts or initiating warfare to sub-conventional actors.