Vasily Nezabitovsky

Vasily Andreyevich Nezabitovsky (Ukrainian: Василь Андрійович Незабітовський - Vasyl Andriyovych Nezabitovsky) (1824-1883), was a jurist, born in Radomyshl, not far from Zhytomyr. He graduated from Kiev University of St. Vladimir. In 1853, Nezabitovsky transferred to the faculty of international law at Kiev University.

Contributions

Nezabitovsky is best known for his study of international law and his conception of a global law versus an international law, in the sense of law between nations. Global law ("общенародноe правo") or "general/omnisocial law" meant to protect an individual against allegiance to a given government or state. Omnisocial law was thus one of the first manifestations of international human rights law. Nezabitovsky's saw international law ("международноe правo") as merely the protection of state's rights vis a vis other states. Omnisocial law was meant to act as a limit on international law.