POLITICAL ISSUES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Introduction. Relations between Russia and Algeria are traditionally friendly. They fit well into the accelerating process of transformation of world politics and economy. In 2023, the leaders of the states signed the Declaration on Deepened Strategic Cooperation, providing for activities to develop bilateral cooperation, including within the framework of international organizations. Both countries seek to give the multicentric world political order an equitable character, ensuring accelerated progressive development of all states, their independence, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for their choice of the model of political and socio-economic structure.
Materials and methods. The methodological basis of the study was formed by the following general scientific and special methods of cognition of legal phenomena and processes in the field of international law: the method of system-structural analysis; the method of synthesis of socio-legal phenomena; formal-logical method; statistical method.
Research results. The research revealed that relations between Russia and Algeria are actively developing both in a bilateral format and within the framework of joint work within international organizations. Further movement towards a multicentric world order would mean that decolonization, which began in the 1950s and 1960s, has been brought to an end.
Discussion and conclusion. Deepening cooperation between Russia and Algeria can make a significant contribution to the restructuring of international relations on a similar basis, including using the potential of international structures and associations created by Moscow or with its participation. The article discusses the development of the legal basis for cooperation between the two states in the light of geopolitical changes and the main areas of cooperation
LAW IN THE PRESENT-DAY WORLD
Introduction. The concept of personal data established in international legal acts as a set of specific features, relates directly or indirectly to a natural person for identification purposes. Such a broad approach links with particularities of constantly updated technologies in information and communication space, opportunities of operators and stakeholder organizations to identify the additional properties of people in the context of employment, management, available services, distance education, fast finance records etc. At the same time, classical human rights to privacy and confidentiality of personal relations and correspondence stay relevant.
Materials and methods. As for the materials, the international legal acts and the Russian legislation, and a number of domestic and foreign scientific papers on personal data protection and human rights, are presented. Methodological foundations are provided with scientific method of analysis and synthesis, comparative-legal and comparative-legal methods.
Results of the study. International legal protection of personal data presumes implementation of universal standards of human rights, specifics of help to vulnerable people, guarantees of privacy. The essential point connects with adoption of the UN Convention against cybercrime 2024, where the list of acts aimed at illegal use of information and communication systems is included, in order to provide their criminalization by State parties. CIS legal base ensures differentiated areas of cooperation, such as mutual legal assistance for exchanging personal data, development of regional digital space, information security and proper migration control. The national regulation of using personal data in the Russian Federation takes into account international legal obligations, which follow from treaties with her participation.
Discussion and conclusion. Children’s access to digital technologies with its positive and socially dangerous functions in the same time, remote forms of employment and guarantees of labor rights are the subject of special concern of international community. The active participation of international organs and UN specialized agencies to find solutions in the above agenda, should be noted. It looks promising to initiate bilateral agreements of states to consolidate a unified understanding of personal data and opportunities to protect it.
Introduction. The article addresses the issue of cybersecurity in Russia’s fuel and energy sector (FES) in the context of digital transformation, as outlined in the Russian Energy Strategy until 2050. The relevance of the topic is substantiated by the growing number of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and the inadequacy of existing legal instruments.
Materials and methods. The research methodology includes comparative legal analysis, formal legal methods, and systemic approaches, drawing upon Russian strategic planning documents and international legal frameworks (USA, EU, China).
Results of the study. The study identifies a legislative gap in the absence of a dedicated federal law on cybersecurity in the FES. The analysis of existing Russian laws shows that current regulations are fragmented and sector-neutral. Foreign models — NERC CIP (USA), NIS 2 Directive (EU), and Chinese cybersecurity legislation — are examined in detail.
Discussion and conclusion. The authors propose a conceptual framework for a federal law on cybersecurity in the FES, based on the principles of prevention, resilience, accountability, and sectoral specificity. The need for prompt legislative action is emphasized as a strategic priority for Russia’s energy security
Introduction. The purpose of this article is to analyze the regulatory legal acts adopted at the EU and CIS level aimed at regulating inheritance, as well as establishing the legal regime of crypto assets and other digital assets and objects, and to identify the main approaches and concepts contained in these documents.
Materials and methods. The regulatory documents at the EU and CIS level related to inheritance, the right to respect for private life, with the establishment of legal regimes in relation to individual digital objects are analyzed. A comparative analysis of various concepts and approaches expressed in various documents is performed, recommendations are proposed for the possible regulation of the relevant relations in the Russian Federation.
The study uses comparative and dogmatic methods, as well as a formal-logical method using an axiological approach.
Results of the study. The conducted analysis allowed us to establish certain differences in the legal regulation of the relevant relations at the EU and CIS level, as well as general approaches to regulation, indicated in the article. Recommendations are formulated for the possible regulation of the relevant relations at the level of the Russian Federation.
Discussion and conclusion. The study showed that the principle of national treatment, enshrined in national laws and international acts, forms the basis for the unification of norms governing labor relations complicated by a foreign element
Introduction. The article examines the imperfection of legal norms governing the procedure for concluding contracts for the purchase and sale of real estate and life annuities, leading to the vulnerability of elderly citizens. To deprive Russian citizens of real estate owned by them, fraudsters use both the institution of a lifetime annuity and an accelerated procedure for registering transactions with these objects.
Materials and methods. In the course of writing the work, a set of general scientific, formal-logical methods (including methods of cognition, description, analysis, induction, deduction, comparison, analogy, systematization, modeling) and special methods (formal-legal, historical, comparative-legal, structural-legal methods; the method of content analysis of official documents regulating the procedure for registration of life annuity contracts and real estate renewal).
The results of the study. An analysis of Russian legislation has shown that fraudsters can implement mechanisms for life annuity and accelerated real estate re-registration in order to appropriate both the real estate objects themselves and the sums of money received as a result of their sale at a price below the market.
At the same time, EU legislation, having a longer history of legal regulation of real estate real estate conversion procedures, as well as their more detailed and step-by-step implementation, makes it difficult for fraudulent groups to take possession of other people's real estate.
Discussion and conclusion. The study showed that a number of current legislative norms of Russian legislation in the field of state registration of rights to real estate, as well as life annuity agreements, create conditions for the implementation of fraudulent schemes and the deprivation of homeowners. In connection with the above, amendments to the current legislation aimed at decriminalizing the transfer of rights to real estate and the conclusion of life annuity agreements are proposed
Introduction. In the context of the aggravation of the international military-political situation, the issues of protecting national sovereignty and national security of Russia using various mechanisms of state policy come to the fore, including relying on the norms of international law governing the latest relations developing between states regarding the militarization of outer space. Due to the fact that this problem is far from being finally resolved, further research in this area is very relevant and determines the need for a scientific understanding of the problem of the militarization of outer space and the development of recommendations aimed at the further development of the system of international legal regulation in this area of interstate relations.
Materials and methods. The theoretical and empirical basis of the study is made up of international legal documents (primarily the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly), normative legal acts of international treaty law, foreign and domestic international legal literature. Based on the integrative approach to scientific legal research when writing the article, the following were used, in particular, general scientific and special methods of understanding legal phenomena and processes in the field of international law, namely, system-structural analysis; the method of synthesis of legal phenomena and processes of military-technological exploration of outer space; formal-logical method, as well as the method of norm-setting support for the processes of using space for military purposes.
Results of the study. The author identified two levels of military exploration of outer space, considered the problems of legal regulation of the use of anti-satellite weapons, and proposed directions for the formation of an agreement on control over antisatellite weapons. It is proposed to include in these agreements really important provisions that will give this area of international law real significance. In particular, it is possible to include in these agreements a provision on an international moratorium on kinetic tests of anti-satellite weapons systems, to designate certain orbital altitudes as security zones, where the placement of objects is possible only with the consent and under the control of international organizations.
Discussion and conclusions. The approaches proposed in the article are important for Russia and the world community, since they serve to specify steps that reduce the possibility of further militarization of outer space, and can be used as building blocks for creating codified rules for the use of outer space.
Russia, as a space power with serious capabilities in the field of using outer space for military purposes, should play a key role in this process, which requires reasonable participation in the system of international legal regulation and defending its national interests in the field of using outer space for national defense
Introduction. The establishment of the legal status of workers in Mexico is commonly associated with the adoption of the 1917 Constitution, which enshrined the foundations of labor legislation during the Mexican Revolution. However, the prerequisites for its formation developed throughout Mexican history, including prior to Spanish colonization, during the colonial period, and during the independence era. In both Russian and international historical-legal scholarship, there is still no comprehensive study on this topic. The aim of this research is to analyze the evolution of the legal status of workers in Mexico before the 1910–1917 revolution, identifying the interconnections between socio-economic processes, legislative acts, and the transformation of labor relations.
Materials and Methods. This research employs dialectical, formal-legal, and systemic methods, which enable the integration of theoretical analysis of legal norms with their historical context. The study draws on works by both Russian and foreign authors dedicated to the evolution of labor relations and the legal status of workers in Mexico, as well as on legislative acts and legal treatises including Sentimientos de la Nación (1813), Decreto Constitucional para la Libertad de la América Mexicana (1814), the Plan de Iguala (1821), Reglamento Provisional Político del Imperio Mexicano (1822), the Constitution of Mexico of 1857, Decreto sobre la libertad del trabajo en la clase de jornaleros (1865), and Estatuto Provisional del Imperio Mexicano (1965). This legal-historical analysis is further enriched by an examination of the socio-economic conditions prevalent in each period.
Research Results. The establishment of the legal status of workers emerged as the outcome of a centuries- long evolutionary process. In the pre-colonial era, labor relations were based on rigid social hierarchies and forced labor. Although the Laws of the Indies formally guaranteed certain rights to indigenous peoples, colonial society inherited many pre-colonial principles, and in practice, the exploitation of the native population persisted. The period of independence in the 19th century abolished the institutions of encomienda and peonage, proclaimed the equality of citizens, yet failed to establish mechanisms for the protection of rights. Legislative initiatives from 1856 to 1910 laid the foundations for regulating labor relations, while the Porfiriato era served as a catalyst for the emerging movement for workers’ rights.
Discussion and Conclusion. The key conclusion of the study is the continuity between the early forms of labor regulation and the provisions of the 1917 Constitution, which ultimately codified the legal status of workers in Mexico. This research confirms that the evolution of labor law in Mexico reflects a synthesis of longstanding traditions and the "spirit of the people." The findings are significant for understanding the genesis of labor rights and offer potential applications in comparative legal studies
THE TOPICAL ISSUES OF WORLD ECONOMY
Introduction. This article explores the process of regionalization, its dynamics, and potential consequences. It analyzes the key factors driving states toward integration into regional alliances. Special emphasis is placed on the obstacles that hinder regionalization and contribute to its non-linear nature. Additionally, attention is given to the potential impact of regionalization on the global economy, based on an assessment of current trends and transformations in the international economic landscape.
Materials and methods. This study employs a combination of general scientific and formal-logical methods, including methods of cognition, description, analysis, induction, deduction, comparison, analogy, systematization, and modeling. Additionally, comparative analysis, a systematic approach, and the case study method are utilized.
Results of the study. The analysis of regionalization has demonstrated that it is an objective process in contemporary global economic development, driven by the slowdown of globalization and geopolitical changes. However, regionalization is not a linear process: conflicts often arise within integration associations, restricting the development of economic cooperation. The consequences of regionalization for states can be both positive and negative. On the one hand, deepening economic ties between countries with similar interests helps reduce economic risks. On the other hand, there is an increasing likelihood of restrictive measures imposed by "unfriendly" state blocs, forcing countries to adapt their trade strategies and seek new trading partners. As a result, the impact of regionalization on each state will manifest in a unique balance of benefits and losses, shaping the specifics of its economic relations.
Discussion and conclusion. Regionalization is transforming the nature of globalization, shaping a new structure of the global economy in which regional associations play a leading role. In this context, it is crucial for states to adapt by developing flexible strategies for economic cooperation. The prospects for further research on regionalization are associated with analyzing its impact on global economic trends and studying state adaptation strategies to new conditions. It is important to recognize that regionalization does not replace globalization but rather transforms it, creating a new model of economic interaction on the international stage.
ADMINISTRATION: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS
Introduction. The article explores the development of the institution of public-private partnership in Russia, the United States, France and Japan, emphasizing the key features of the legal systems of these countries and their impact on the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects. The study highlights the essential role of harmonization of the legal and regulatory framework for the successful development of public-private partnership, which requires taking into account the interests of both the public and private sectors.
Materials and methods. The study is based on the following general scientific and special methods: classification, analysis, synthesis, comparative-legal method, system-structural method, technical-legal method, OSINT analysis and study of casual law applied in public-private partnership regulation.
Research results. The paper identifies the main characteristics and differences in the public-private partnership legal systems of Russia, the USA, France and Japan. The Russian regulatory framework governing public-private partnerships is based on the Federal Law No. 225-FZ «On Production Sharing Agreements» dated 30 December 1995, the Federal Law No. 115-FZ «On Concession Agreements» dated 21 July 2005 and the Federal Law No. 224-FZ «On Public-Private Partnership, Municipal-Private Partnership in the Russian Federation and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation» dated 13 July 2015. These federal laws establish the legal framework for the implementation of PPP projects, determine the forms of interaction between public and private partners, as well as regulate the procedure for the conclusion, execution and termination of the relevant agreements. However, despite the development of the existing legal framework, there are certain shortcomings in the Russian practice of PPP project implementation. Primarily, the following should be attributed to them:
- The presence of inconsistencies between regional PPP legal regulation and federal regulation: along with federal laws, the constituent entities of the Russian Federation have their own regulations governing PPPs, which may lead to legal fragmentation and complicate the unification of legal approaches to this institution;
- High transaction costs: complexity and duration of PPP project approval and implementation procedures increase costs for the participants;
- Lack of a single coordinating structure at the federal level: currently, infrastructure projects implemented on the basis of PPPs are subject to approval by the federal or regional executive body in charge of the infrastructure project, which may create different practices of implementation of similar/ contiguous infrastructure projects.
The above deficiencies are compounded by frequent changes in legislation, which creates uncertainty and reduces the attractiveness of the public-private partnership model. in Russian infrastructure projects for private investors. Against this background, the Japanese public-private partnership model stands out for its long-term strategic orientation and effective use of the build-transfer-ownown model. This model minimises the tax burden on private partners while ensuring state ownership of infrastructure facilities, which makes projects both economically efficient and socially significant. In France, on its part, despite the diversity of publicprivate partnership models, the legal regulation of different forms of public-private partnerships is harmonised and there is a clear distinction between concessions and public-private partnership contracts.
Discussion and conclusion. Based on the analysis, recommendations for improving the legal regulation of public-private partnerships in Russia have been proposed. These include harmonisation of regional and federal legislation, reduction of transaction costs and development of special economic regimes providing for the legislative enshrinement of preferences, benefits and guarantees for private (including foreign) investors involved in the implementation of large infrastructure projects on the basis of public-private partnership. In addition, special attention should be paid to the development of a unified institutional structure for the management of public-private partnership participants' projects.
The implementation of the above measures will create conditions for attracting private investment, increasing the efficiency of infrastructure projects implemented on the basis of public-private partnership
Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of the institute of lobbying as an institutionalized mechanism of influence on political decision-making in modern democracies. Democracy is understood here as a political system that meets the criteria of competitive elections, separation of powers, and protection of human rights. Lobbying is interpreted as targeted interaction between business structures, public authorities and civil society aimed at representing interests and developing legislative initiatives in the public sphere. The paper provides a comparative legal and content analysis of the main models of lobbying activities (registry, consulting, hybrid and digital), examines legal regulation (laws of the USA, EU, Canada and regulatory gaps in the Russian Federation) and assesses the impact of lobbying on the stages of public policy development. Special attention is paid to a comparative analysis of practices in the United States, the European Union, and Russia, which revealed common principles of institutionalization and significant differences in transparency, accountability, and sanctions mechanisms.
Materials and methods. This study uses a set of methods, including a comprehensive literature review, case-by-case analysis, comparative analysis, study of legal norms, and statistical analysis. Initially, a systematic review of scientific publications, monographs and legislative acts on lobbying in Russia and foreign countries (USA, EU, Canada, Brazil, India) was conducted, which allowed to identify key conceptual approaches and existing gaps in the research. Further, based on reports on the Lobbying Disclosure Act (USA, 1995-2023), the EU Transparency Register and the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying (Canada), specific examples of institutionalized lobbying were analyzed to understand the mechanisms of registration, reporting and control. A comparative analysis of various lobbying systems was carried out according to the criteria of transparency, formalization, administrative costs and flexibility, as well as an assessment of their effectiveness in influencing the process of public policy formation. To determine the scope and limitations of regulatory regulation, a detailed analysis of existing laws and regulations was performed, including the identification of the lack of a clear definition, participants and sanctions in Russian legislation. The statistical analysis of lobbying costs and their distribution by sector was based on open data from registers and annual reports of lobbying organizations, which made it possible to visualize the cost structure.
Results of the study. Institutionalized lobbying is one of the key mechanisms of influence on the political decision-making process in modern democratic states. Professional lobbyists and specialized lobbying organizations influence the formation of the state agenda in a wide range of areas, from economic, trade, and economic to environmental and social policy. An analysis of open registry data shows that lobbying costs in the United States are continuously increasing, reaching USD 4.5 billion in 2023 (U.S. Senate, 2024), which indicates the increasing weight of corporate interests in the legislative process. Transparency of registration procedures and regular reporting, characteristic of the registry models of the USA and the EU, plays a critical role in ensuring a balance between public interests and the interests of individual groups. In countries with well-established legal frameworks (strict disclosure requirements, sanctions for reporting violations), lobbying demonstrates a higher level of legitimacy and public trust. At the same time, underestimating the role of control and insufficient mechanisms of sanctions can lead to excessive influence of narrow groups and the creation of corruption risks. The effectiveness of institutionalized lobbying is determined by the resources of the participants and the quality of legal regulation, transparency of processes and a strict system of responsibility for violations of norms.
Discussion and conclusion. The modern practice of institutionalized lobbying demonstrates its dual nature: on the one hand, lobbying contributes to the democratic process by providing legislators with expert data from business, science, and public organizations, and on the other, in the absence of a clear legal framework and control mechanisms, it can become a source of political corruption and opaque influence. In transitional and mature democracies, it is important to develop a comprehensive regulatory approach that includes mandatory registration of participants, disclosure of financial flows, and sanctions for reporting violations. Such a system provides a balance between legitimate representation of interests and avoiding the dominance of narrow groups. Lobbying, being an integral element of public policy, should be integrated into a unified legal architecture supported by accountability and monitoring mechanisms. Of particular relevance is the further study of lobbying practices in emerging democracies, where the lack of a tradition of transparency exacerbates the risks of corrupt influence and overcoming institutional barriers to effective representation of civil and commercial interests.
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