Legal Regulation of Counteracting Cyber Risks in the Marine Space of the Caspian Region within the Framework of Ensuring Regional Security

INTRODUCTION. Today, the international community recognizes the multidimensional and complex nature of the concept of «international security» and calls for the cooperation of states in this field. It seems that the development and implementation of such mechanisms should start with small regional groups, and then, by identifying the most effective models, they can be implemented universally. The Caspian region is an example of such regional efforts to strengthen security. The authors research the main aspects of regional security. It is the cyber security aspect. The authors propose the idea of creating a cyber incident management center in the maritime space of the Caspian region. The aim of the paper is to confirm the hypothesis of the need to develop a legal framework for the implementation of a cyber risk prevention and management system in the Caspian region as a mandatory part of the system of regional security.MATERIAL AND METHODS. To achieve the stated goal, the authors' team solved a number of scientific tasks, among which is a brief analysis of UN legal acts justifying the fact of international security complexity and regional and international security interdependence. Then, review of the Caspian States' treaty framework for regional security and peaceful cooperation in various fields. The review of IMO acts on maritime and marine cybersecurity was an important step towards achieving this goal. Apart from the traditional general-science methods of research, the authors mainly used the method of doctrinal interpretation of legal acts, which allowed to justify the possibility of legal regulation and conclusion of a separate protocol.RESEAECH RESULTS. The study resulted in recommendations on the structure and content of the Protocol for the Management of Cyber Risks in the Caspian Sea.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. In the course of a thorough analysis of regional normative sources operating in the designated area within the Caspian region. The authors conclude that it is necessary to adopt an additional protocol on cooperation in the field of maritime safety.