Abstract: The author studies the types of ground for exclusions from the norm on the exhaustion of the domestic means of legal protection, as recognized in the international law. In particular, he analyzes such grounds as the lack of access to the domestic means of legal protection, inefficiency of domestic means of legal protection, unjustified delay in justice, etc. The exception from the rule of exhaustion of domestic means of legal protection is based upon the provisions of international treaties. The author states that usually exempting the claimant from the obligation to exhaust the domestic means of legal protection has to do with the lack of funds for payment to the legal representative. The author notes that the absence of procedural guarantees of fair and public judicial proceedings, fair and impartial court characterizes the means of judicial protection as being inefficient, an unjustified delay in dealing with the case by the court or other bodies may also serve as grounds for exemption to the rule of exhaustion of the domestic means of legal protection. Finally, the author notes that in the general provisions of international law it is possible to exempt from the application of certain means of legal protection, if it shall lead to the repeated or continued violation of rights, and it may also lead to the situation where the rule on the exhaustion of the domestic remedies may not apply.