Legal Inequality of the Subjects of the Russian Federation and the Problems of Ensuring the Unity of the Legal Space

Abstract

Simultaneously with  the evolution  of the modern  Russian  state, federal  relations are also developing.  Since  2000, one of the priorities of state development  has been to ensure the unity  of the Russian  state. This  task was realized  through the formation  of a unified  legal system, ensuring the unity  of the system of public authority, the unity  of the status of the individual  throughout the state, the sovereignty and state integrity of the Russian Federation, the supremacy  of the Constitution  of Russia  and  federal  laws  throughout  its territory, the unity  of the  economic  space.  The  concept  of «unity  of legal space» has  steadily  entered the constitutional  and legal matter, the study of which  is devoted to quite a few theoretical studies.  No  less than  practical studies reflecting the results of the ongoing work  to ensure the unity  of the legal space in Russia.  It is impossible to carry out such a policy without ensuring genuine  legal equality  of the regions that  make  up the Russian  Federation.  The diverse and  numerous  composition of the subjects of the Russian  Federation, the diversity of their interests, factors of law-making and law enforcement  practice have given rise to a multidimensional phenomenon  consisting in the presence of different  rights (opportunities) of the subjects of the Russian  Federation  implemented  in the field of law-making (in  the presence of uniformly  established  their subjects of competence  and  powers), to which  the federal center reacts differently.  The existence of such a practice indicates a violation of the principle of equality of the subjects of the Russian  Federation among themselves  (Part 1 of art. 5 of the Constitution  of Russia)  and in relations with  federal state authorities  (Part 5 of Article 5 of the Constitution  of Russia).  Such  a view (approach)  in research on the legal equality of the subjects of the Russian  Federation and ensuring the unity of the legal space is innovative.  The  article reveals the depth of differences, the reasons and  motives for the occurrence  of such  examples, and  also suggests a  mechanism  for their  settlement, using numerous  practical examples, including based on the author’s experience.