The principle of democracy in Russian penal law – a principle without content or practical implementation
- Authors: Ilyukhina V.A.1,2
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Affiliations:
- The Academy of the FPS of Russia
- Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Management – Branch of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
- Issue: Vol 9, No 3 (2025)
- Pages: 314-322
- Section: General Theory and History of Law and the State
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/2587-9340/article/view/312206
- ID: 312206
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Abstract
From a positivist perspective on law, the principle of democracy is examined as a principle of criminal-executive law. Based on an analysis of legislation, case law, and scientific literature, it is concluded that the principle of democracy enshrined in Article 8 of the Russian Criminal Enforcement Code is a principle without content or practical implementation in the Russian legal system. By its nature, it is unrelated to the penal system and does not align with its goals and objectives. This principle is debated in scientific literature, ranging from recognizing its meaninglessness to artificial attempts to find some content in it, with views on which vary greatly. In judicial practice, the principle of democracy has proven to be completely unused in any aspect. Despite its normative consolidation, it plays no role either in the regulation of criminal enforcement relations or in the Russian legal system as a whole. It has been proposed to exclude the mention of the principle of democracy from Article 8 of the Criminal Enforcement Code of the Russian Federation.
About the authors
Vera A. Ilyukhina
The Academy of the FPS of Russia; Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Management – Branch of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
Author for correspondence.
Email: eva3011@bk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7049-4593
Dr. Sci. (Law), Associate Professor, Professor of Theory of State and Law, International and European Law Department; Leading Researcher, Research Center
Russian Federation, 1 Sennaya St., Ryazan, 390000, Russian Federation; 46 Gagarina Ave., Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russian FederationReferences
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