Sovereignty as Legal Self-Determination of Russia

Abstract

This article analyzes key aspects of the concept of «sovereignty», its properties and manifestations. State sovereignty evolves historically, manifesting itself in a gradual process of self-limitation of state power. This manifests itself most significantly in the actions of the state and its bodies within the framework of the constitution and national legislation, in accordance with the doctrine of the rule of law. Particular attention is paid to the Russian constitutional doctrine of sovereignty in the context of federal relations and its interaction with international law. Key rulings are used to illustrate the legal positions of the Constitutional Court on the manifestations of sovereignty and the procedures for ensuring it. The article analyzes the interaction between the Constitutional Court and the European Court and the impact of the latter’s decisions on the Russian constitutional legal order. It notes that the legal positions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation resolve the issue of conflicts with the decisions of the European Court and are fundamental to understanding national sovereignty for the implementation of international law. A conclusion is formulated about the importance of consistent constitutionalization of the Russian legal system as a process of self-restraint of the state on the basis of the current Constitution of the Russian Federation, its principles and values.