Local government in Russia: de jure and de facto

Abstract

The analysis of the RF Federal Law of 6 October 2003 No 131-FZ, which enshrines the general principles of the organization of local self-government in the Russian Federation, demonstrates the consistent introduction of amendments aimed at restricting the autonomy of local self-government, which clearly contradicts the constitutional provisions on local self-government. In this regard, it seems necessary to determine the presence of the lower level of public authority (local self-government), for which it is necessary to reveal the conformity of the modern realities of local self-government with constitutional provisions and normative legal acts adopted for their development, that is, correlate de jure and de facto. The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the highest constitutional justice body, has a great influence on the formation of local self-government in the Russian state. It forms the legal position on the organizational, legal, competence, territorial, financial and economic foundations of local self-government. In this regard, researchers are interested in the legal positions of the RF Constitutional Court regarding the autonomy of local self-government and its relations with state authorities, which have undergone significant changes throughout the entire period of reforming local self-government. Based on the analysis of changes in the legislation on local self-government and the legal positions of the RF Constitutional Court, this article shows the inconsistency of local self-government at the present stage of its development. Thus, the author proves that there are no working mechanisms for the implementation of local self-government by the population. This article concludes that the current situation requires special attention and attitude from the state, since without purposeful changes in the state policy in the sphere of local self-government it is impossible to preserve such postulates enshrined in the Russian Constitution, as democracy and local government.