PROBLEMS IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF SOVEREIGNTY AND INTERNATIONAL LE-GAL STATUS OF THE SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA
This article deals with the problem of understanding the international legal status of one of the most controversial from the point of view of international law state - the Sovereign military order of Malta. An issue of sovereignty and legal personality, as a participant in international legal relations, is still unclear. On the one hand the order is actively in contact with other States by concluding bilat-eral relationship, exchanging diplomats, has its permanent observer to the United Nations and the Council of Europe. On the other hand, it is not clear his relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, which granted the order sovereignty. The author examines the history of the Order since its Founda-tion to the present day, and the works of scientists devoted to the resolution of its legal status. Analyze the following sources of law as the Constitutional Charter of the Order, the basics of its political and social organization, and main activities.