Riigiraamist

Riigiraamist is an Estonian term used to describe the geographic and legal extent of a state's sovereignty—the borders and frontier of the country. It encompasses the main components of sovereign territory: land territory, internal waters, territorial sea, and airspace; in broader discussions it can include related zones such as the exclusive economic zone. The concept is central to how states define their authority, manage border control, and engage in international relations.

In international law, the limits of the riigiraamist are typically established through bilateral or multilateral treaties, boundary agreements, and customary law. Delimitation processes seek to determine the exact line where one state's sovereignty ends and another's begins, and they are recognized by other states and international bodies such as the United Nations. Where treaties are absent or contested, disputes may be brought to international courts or arbitrations.

In practice, defining and enforcing riigiraamist involves border markers, customs and immigration controls, and the administration of cross-border territories. Changes to a state's borders usually require mutual consent or lawful settlement of disputes, while de facto control can differ from de jure recognition.

See also: sovereignty; border delimitation; territorial disputes; international law; border control.