Biopolitics and legal issues of emergency situations in the context of coronavirus pandemic

¹ Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya pl. 1, 394018, Voronezh, Russia
² Moscow State Institute of International Relations, prospect Vernadskogo 76, 119454, Moscow, Russia
³ Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Miklukho-Maklaya str. 6, 117198, Moscow, Russia

^* Corresponding author: alena_trikoz@mail.ru

Abstract

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of biopolitical issues at the present time. The modern social state and the developing biolaw regulate a lot of private and public legal relations, especially the sensitive sphere of somatic and reproductive human rights, and the biological status of citizens. The most important aspect of national legal regulation, such as the ratio of law and morality, international bio-standards, is being updated, and the status of bioethics and biolaw is being raised. The development of modern genetic engineering and biotechnologies raises the question of the legal boundaries of biopolitics. It has been found that national governments often expand biopolitical impact in situations of emergency and new biohazards, in particular, the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper is prepared using doctrinal-legal and comparative-synchronous analysis of legal measures applied by different countries in the field of biopolitics. The research is based on extensive scientific and regulatory material. As a result, it was concluded that at the current stage of countering the pandemic, many countries restrict the biological rights of citizens and activate genetic technologies. The Russian and foreign experience of biopolitics in the state of emergency wasstudied.