Prospects for the implementation and problems of the theory of the Institution of “regulatory sandboxes” (experimental legal regimes) in the Russian Federation

Abstract

This article analyzes the Federal Law of July 31, 2020 “On Experimental Legal Regimes in the Sphere of Digital Innovations in the Russian Federation” enacted in 2021 and aimed at the creation of “regulatory sandboxes “ in the Russian Federation – special regimes that allow the organizations to test the effectiveness of innovative technologies in implementation of their products and services without the risk of breaching the legislation. Leaning on such theoretical categories  as “legal regime” and “legal experiment”, the author explores the elements of the new legal institution introduced into the Russian legal system. Description is given to the scope of applicability of the experimental legal regimes in Russia – the digital innovations. The article reviews the principles, objects, actors, conditions, restrictions, types, and stages of the experimental legal regime; as well as distinguishes the bodies that monitor and assess the legal experiments, including the authorized body for the experimental legal regimes, the organization that represents business community in the experimental legal regimes, regulatory body, coordinating body, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. The grounds for termination of implementation of the experimental legal regimes are reviewed. Taking into account the foreign experience, the author predicts positive effect from the implementation of legislative novelty, which is able to ensure operational audit of fintech solutions and offset the potential risks of its implementation