1. Pisillo Mazzeschi’s main thesis Pisillo Mazzeschi has carried out an in depth enquiry of the topic of immunity. One should not only take into account  the piece he wrote for Questions of International Law, but also the substantive contribution he has made to an Italian legal encyclopedia.[1]  His findings have already been critically analysed...

1. Introduction I read with great interest the article by Pisillo Mazzeschi and the subsequent reactions to it, all of which were stimulating in terms of the variety of views expressed and the arguments supporting them. That said, no-one, myself included, should make the presumption that the opinions he expressed are necessarily the right ones,...

1. Introduction Riccardo Pisillo Mazzeschi offers an interesting proposal to merge ratione personae and ratione materiae immunity for current and former state officials from the jurisdiction of foreign states. He argues that the traditional distinction between these forms of immunity ‘demands a critical review’ because, in contemporary international practice, both types of immunity are rooted...

1. Introduction Riccardo Pisillo Mazzeschi has written an impressively researched and thought-provoking article that challenges the traditional theories on functional immunity of State officials. He not only challenges the conceptual premise that the immunity of State officials is a necessary corollary of the immunity of the State, but also questions the scope of functional immunity...

1. Introductory remarks Professor Riccardo Pisillo Mazzeschi has devoted a stimulating article to a specific aspect of the international law on immunities: the scope ratione personae of immunity ratione materiae. On the basis of a rich analysis, he concludes that not all State officials, but only certain categories thereof, benefit from immunity ratione materiae. I...

1. Introduction: The controversial issue of the functional immunity of State officials from foreign jurisdiction and the work of the ILC The norms of customary international law concerning the functional (or ratione materiae)  immunity of State officials from foreign (criminal, civil and administrative) jurisdiction are somewhat dated but nonetheless remain controversial and contemporary international law...