Legal regulation of the use and protection of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation: certain relevant issues

The subject of this research is a set of legal norms regulating social relations that arise in the context of use and protection of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The goal lies in formulation of the conclusions and recommendations for the improvement of legal regulation in this sphere. The relevance of the selected topic is substantiated by interest of the state in the development of Arctic Zone as a strategic resource base for accelerating the economic growth of the Russian Federation. Among the priority national interests are also the environmental protection of region, conservation of the native habitat and traditional way of living of the indigenous small-numbered peoples. This emphasizes the importance of intensification of use and preservation of the vulnerable areas of the region. The author dwells on the current issues of the formation of territories of traditional management of natural resources and legal status of their lands; rights of the indigenous peoples to land in their native habitat and traditional economy; provision of land plots to entrepreneurs who are the residents of the Arctic Zone; protection of the Arctic lands, etc. The conclusion is made on the existence of gaps and contradictions in legislation of the indicated sphere, which requires revision and improvement. This pertains to the questions of formation of the territories of traditional management of natural resources, maintenance and modification of their boundaries, establishment of the special protection regime in the federal law, etc. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the adopted simplified procedure for providing entrepreneurs who are residents of the Arctic Zone with land plots aimed at expansion of the development of natural resources of the Arctic, may negatively affect the status of lands and overall fragile environment of the Arctic Zone, and thus, lead to infringement upon the interests of the local population, including the indigenous peoples. The author formulates a number of recommendations for the improvement of legislation, among which is the amendments to the Paragraph 2 of the Article 39.34 of the Land Code of the Russian Federation on the establishment of highly restricted cases of termination of permits using the land plots by the indigenous small-numbered peoples.

Online reconciliation as a means of improving the access to justice

The subject of this research is the problem of improving the effectiveness of conciliation procedures, their relevance to the citizens, and increasing the role and importance of the forms of pacific settlement of the dispute within the Russian system of justice in the conditions of digitalization of judicial activity. The goal of this article is to prove online reconciliation as a method for improving access to justice, as well as substantiate the integrated model of reconciliation in judicial activity using digital services and platforms. Leaning on the works of the Russian and foreign researchers (V. M. Zhuykov, S. K. Zagaynova, V. V. Yarkov, and others), the conclusion is made that the institution of reconciliation, including mediation, is historically built around the judicial system. Hindsight analysis of the judicial and non-judicial forms of dispute settlement indicates their coherent development. The implementation of the digital platform “Justice Online” in judicial activity allows improving citizens’ access to dispute resolution in or without judicial proceedings using pacific means. In the current context, reconciliation is viewed within the structure of judicial activity and consists in implementation of reconciliation procedures, including online reconciliation, in the courthouse or with the involvement of court, or via digital judicial platforms. The application of comparative legal analysis substantiates the integrated mod el of reconciliation, which has the following characteristics: access to mediation services in the courthouse; granting authorities to the court staff for elucidation of the possible methods of dispute settlement; accretion of power of reconciliation judges; integration of technological services of online reconciliation with the digital judicial platform; merger between the website of the court and the websites of mediation organizations.

Certain issues of protection of the rights of citizens in concluding a transaction under psychological duress

This article is dedicated to the legal issues of protection of the rights of individuals who have concluded civil transactions under psychological duress, namely hypnosis. The object of this research is civil law relations that emerge in conclusion of transaction by individuals. The subject of this research is the person’s will and its characteristics in deciding to conclude a transaction under psychological coercion unrelated to physical violence, as well as legal consequences of concluding such transactions. The author examines the factors that contribute to conclusion of transactions under psychological coercion and possible reasons for psychological coercion. The article examines civil and criminal law methods of protection of the rights of citizens who concluded transactions with a defect of volition, but are legally capable and aware of their actions. The conclusion is made that the only effective way to protect the individual from concluding such transaction lies in cultivation of the will. It is noted that the key evidence in challenging such transactions is forensic psychiatry evaluation; however, its commission depends solely on the judge’s decision on a particular dispute. The author assumes that the implementation of punitive measures for coercing into conclusion of such transactions is improbable, since the law enforcement authorities would refuse to initiate a criminal case due to civil nature of the dispute. The scientific novelty of consists in carrying out a comprehensive analysis of both, civil and criminal law methods of protection of the rights of citizens who have concluded transactions with the defect of volition, and the possibility of their practical implementation.

The problem of anti-psychologism in Hans Kelsen’s “Pure Theory of Law”

This article examines the nature and specificity of the criticism of psychologism as a theoretical-methodological orientation towards studying law and its interpretation, which in particular was associated with such version of interpretation of law as the “Pure Theory of Law” of Hans Kelsen. More in-depth representations of modern legal theory in understanding the patterns of law and its essential aspects requires the due coverage of the history of psychological and anti-psychological approaches towards law that form of the major oppositions in the development of legal though at the turn of the XIX – XX centuries. Multiple aspects of H. Kelsen's legal views are yet to be examined, including the correlation of his doctrine with other doctrines, as well as the nature of substantiation of law and the analysis of legal phenomena. The scientific novelty of lies in the fact that based on the analysis of legal views of the Austrian jurist Hans Kelsen wirh his pronounced claim to exclude all “non-legal’ elements, it is revealed that a significant part of conceptual-logical apparatus of Kelsen’s teaching and the approaches towards substantiation of law were psychological in nature. Unlike the objective-idealistic positions of H. Kelsen, legal Neo-Kantianism was methodologically more accurate in elucidation of interrelation between the actual legal phenomenon and the role of gnoseological methods of perception and comprehension of law. The assessment of H. Kelsen’s doctrine as the theory of law is subject to criticism in this article, since in reality it is limited to the issues of legal methodology.

Conceptual interpretations of law in foreign sociology and their importance for effective public administration

The goal of this research lies in determination of the core philosophical-legal concepts in foreign social philosophy and sociology, which are relevant in modern era for the effective solution of political and administrative tasks. The article examines the views of the prominent foreign philosophers and theoreticians in the field of sociology of law (M. Weber, E. Durkheim, H. Kelsen, D. Nelken, D. Balkin, and others). In light of the uniqueness of their views, they can be encapsulated into the following perspectives: law is the order of relations between people who comprise the society, i.e. social order; politics is one of the regulators of social order, determines the relations between the government and individuals; such political order alongside the economy and culture is one of the three global social systems that are closely intertwined with each other and permanently affect each other. The essence of sociological interpretation of legal ideas can be formulated in three positions: 1) law should be understood as an aspect of social relations, since it is utterly associated with coexistence of individuals in social groups; 2) social phenomena of law should be viewed empirically, through detailed consideration of variability and continuity of social coexistence in the actual historical models, rather than in respect of idealized or abstractly imagined social conditions; 3) social phenomena should be examined systematically: from the empirical fact of social reality to socio-philosophical theory. Sociological comprehension of legal ideas methodologically expresses the own disparate and diverse characteristics of law. It must inform about the legal ideas and provide their interpretation for solving particular tasks of politics and public administration.

Interpretation of jurisprudence and law in the doctrine of T. E. Holland

The subject of this research is the legal doctrine of the leading representative of English legal positivism of the last quarter of the XIX – first third of the XX centuries of Thomas Erskine Holland. The article is dedicated to examination of the two key aspects of his concept – comprehension of the nature of jurisprudence as a science, and law as a type of social norm. Leaning on the classic work of the British jurist “The Elements of Jurisprudence” (1880), the author defines the understanding of jurisprudence and law, reveals the historical-cultural meaning of Holland's legal doctrine for the subsequent development of English jurisprudence. Methodological framework is comprised of the historical approach, elements of biographical approach, techniques and procedures of legal hermeneutics, rules and techniques of formal logic, and elements of comparative-legal method. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that this article is first within Russian legal science to conduct the concept analysis of the key theoretical-legal definitions (jurisprudence and law) of T. Holland’s doctrine, as well as reveal the ideological interrelation between the views of the British jurist and the founders of analytical jurisprudence. The author also substantiates the position, according to which Holland's approach towards comprehension of the nature of jurisprudence as a science can be defined as dogmatic. T. Holland's contribution to the development of legal positivism consists in argumentation of the formal and analytical nature of legal science, as well as in carrying out gradual differentiation of positive law from natural and social norms, and analysis of the crucial theoretical concepts of legal science.

Vector of development of international legal regulation in the sphere of public-private partnership

The subject of this research is the prospects for the development of international legal regulation of public-private partnership. The question is raised on the diminishing role of the state in regulation of international and transboundary relations in the sphere of public-private partnership. The author indicates a quite noticeable replacement of traditional regulatory processes, the key role in which is played by the states, with informal processes of international rule-making, in which the lead is taken by non-state actors. It is substantiated that the absence of international convention on public-private partnership negatively affects the regulation of relations in the sphere of public-private partnership. Leaning on the domestic and foreign scientific literature, the author outlines the vector of development of international law in the sphere of public-private partnership, as well as substantiates the need for adopting the international framework convention on public-private partnership. Analysis is conducted on the special forms of interaction between international law and national law in the sphere of public-private partnership, as well as on correlation between international law and non-legal regulators of public-private partnership. The article describes the key aspects of the content of the international framework convention on public-private partnership. The novelty of consists in establishment of the vector of development of international legal regulation of public-private partnership. Based on the “clash” of private law and public law approaches towards regulation of international investment relations, the author substantiates the comprehensive approach towards regulation of public-private partnership.

The impact of distancing upon the organizational-legal means of the Russian judicial system

This article examines the impact of the need for maintaining physical and social distancing between people caused by the epidemiological situation upon the organizational-legal means of the Russian judicial system. This implies the concept of “smart” regulation with the use of both traditional means of legal regulation (prohibitions, permits, obligations, sanctions, incentives) and tools of psychological, educational, and information influence. At the same time, distancing is viewed as a factor that prompts changes in the forms of legal activity, as well as the result of transformations taking place in society. Such organizational-legal means affected by the need for physical and social distancing, suggest using video conferencing systems, online sessions, change in the procedure for submitting procedural and other documents, familiarization with audio protocols of court hearing and other documents in digital format, as well as restrictions for presence in the courthouse. The author determines the advantages and disadvantages of the innovations. The conclusion is made that such restrictions must be temporary only to avoid violating the principles of transparency and openness of judicial proceedings.

On legal succession in reconciliation of criminal cases of private prosecution

The subject of this research is the criminal prosecution of cases established by the Part 2 of the Article 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, which is carried out in private capacity and significantly modifies the rights and responsibilities of the parties to criminal proceedings. Pursuant to the general rule, the state authorities and officials do not carry out private prosecution cases. In view of this, close attention is given the procedural activity of private prosecutor, who is vested the right in application of measures of state coercion, but entrusted with responsibility on formulating, proving, and pressing charges in court. Retrospective analysis of the Russian criminal procedure legislation reveals that modern legislation has no legal succession of the centuries-long experience of classifying a range of offences as cases of private prosecution. The author believes that the list of cases of private prosecution can be extended by taking into account the provisions of the Criminal Law and Practice Statute 1864, Regulations of Punishments Imposed by Justices of the Peace, which enables reconciliation of the parties and entails unconditional termination of proceedings in certain categories of minor offences. This would ensure the effective implementation of criminal proceedings, restoration of social and legal justice, and accessibility of justice to general public.

Types of easements and peculiarities of their implementation in the Russian and Vietnamese Law

The relevance of this article is substantiated by the absence of unified approach toward comprehension of the legal nature of public easement. Insufficient regulation of easement relations in civil legislation of the Russian Federation (easement is mentioned in just four articles of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation) entails the problems in law enforcement practice. One of such problems is the absence of universal classification of easements that would ensure unity of the mechanism for regulating easement relations, which affords grounds for amending the current Russian legislation. The attempt to systematize easements suggested by the real right reform is polemical and yet to be approved. The subject of this research on the basis of comparative legal analysis is the provisions of the types of easements and peculiarities of the implementation in the Russian and Vietnamese law. The novelty lies in carrying out a comprehensive comparative legal analysis of the types of easements in the Russian and Vietnamese law. The conclusion is made on the gap in the mechanism of regulation of easement relations in the Russian legislation. The need is substantiated for the systemic construction of easement norms in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. The author makes recommendations for the improvement of the provisions on easement in the reform, and outlines the vector of development of this institution in the current legislation of Vietnam. The theoretical and practical value of this work gives an in-depth perspective on the civil law of the Russian Federation and Vietnam.