Was there a reform: to the question of the legal significance of the amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation of 2020

About the author:

Yuriy V. Kim, Dr. Sci. (Jur.), Professor, Department of State and Administrative Law, Law Institute of Kemerovo State University; Yu_kim@mail.ru; ORCID: 0000-0001-7389-7670

Abstract:

The question of whether a major change in the text of the Russian Constitution in 2020 can be considered as a constitutional reform is not that simple. Usually, reforms are preceded by thorough preparation. Successful reforms require adequate organizational, legal, doctrinal and human resources support. Objectively, the need for a systematic adjustment of the text of the Constitution was growing in Russian society. The societal demand for constitutional reform has been developing since the moment the Constitution was adopted. This is due to many flaws and gaps that were found later during its implementation. At the same time, the process of transformation of the Constitution started unexpectedly for society, passed quickly, did not have proper support and led to contradictory results. The purpose of this research is to analyze organizational and legal, doctrinal as well as formal and legal aspects of the innovation based on scientific methods. Moreover, deviations from the due legal procedure for amending stated by the Constitution itself and other laws are identified. The methods used for the constitutionalization of legislation, violation of the structural and content-related integrity of the text, technical and legal errors, the legal significance of the plebiscite on the approval of amendments to the Constitution of Russia are critically assessed. In this regard, the question of the state of constitutionalism in Russia and possible measures to strengthen it remains relevant.

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