On the possibility of compensation for moral damage in case of violation of property rights: traditional views and innovations of practice

Abstract

The subject of the study is a set of approaches to the possibility of compensation for moral harm in case of violation of property rights and the approach presented in paragraph 4 of the Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of 15 November 2022, No. 33 "On the practice of application by courts of the norms on compensation for moral harm". The author analyses the new approach, addressing the issue of its impact on judicial practice to determine the applicability of this approach. As a methodology, the author uses comparativistics of the approaches and practice of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts of the Russian Federation until 15 November 2022 and the approach presented in paragraph 4 of the above Resolution. The main conclusions of the study are that the new approach is recognised as revolutionary compared to those previously applied. The author concludes that the new approach, despite the contradiction with the rules based on the literal interpretation of the law, is a successful combination of all the main components of the institution in question, necessary for its correct application from the point of view of the meaning and purpose of compensation for moral harm. The new approach establishes an open list of cases in which compensation is possible, but at the same time introduces a certain criterion of applicability, in order to prevent the "emasculation" of this institution as a means of defence, since the procedure for assessing the existence and degree of moral harm is subjective. And the author analyses the impact of the new approach on judicial practice, noting that this approach is not fully understood and therefore accepted by the courts, as it does not coincide with the literal interpretation of paragraph 4 of the mentioned Ruling.