Abstract: The lack of clarity in provisions of Art. 84 of the Constitution of the Russian Federaiton,which is devoted to the Address of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly caused the opinions of scholars to become quite polarized, as to what status should be given to these Addresses. Some even say that these Addresses should be recognized as constitutional acts above regular laws…

Abstract: Russia’s position on genetically modified foodstuffs is vary, since on one hand Russia cannot ignore the global trend, and such ignorance may destroy relevant industries in it, and on the other hand there are certain health issues for the present and for the future. Currently Russian legislation is undergoing a process of harmonization with the international norms.

Abstract: The roundtable with the representatives of different state organizations, religious confessions and mass media, the verbatim record of which is presented here, is devoted to the forming practice of military clergy (mostly Russian Orthodox Church) clergy in the Russian army? Shall the clergy be able to save Privates Sychevs (the Private Sychev suffered serious physical injury from his fellow soldiers while being in the army) from harm? Are the interests of the soldiers of other religious confessions being adequately represented?

Abstract: At the current stage of development of Russian state, it is especially important to pay attention to an effective constitutional legal policy. As it was truly noted by the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation V.D. Zorkin, “this sphere is hardly well-established”. That is why, as the author points out, it is quite important to give an adequate analysis of the constitutional legal policy as a category, with due attention paid to its content.

Abstract: The reform of executive procedure after the court decisions, which started in 1997, changed the existing system, and the practice of application of the new legislation show that it is not sufficiently efficient. What other related problems are there in civil procedure and how can they be solved? Would the Executive Code become a solution?

Abstract: In the list of more than 30 laws, of which T.V. Zlotnikova was involved in drafting as a Vice-Chairperson, and then a Chairperson of the Ecological Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, the Federal Law “On the Ecological Expertise” takes a special place. It was the only project, which was drafted by a single person, which is a rare case in legislative practice of any state. The article also includes analysis of the first decade of its application.

Abstract: «The Washington Post» characterized the elections in Ukraine this March as “the most democratic elections in Ukrainian history”. However, as the author of this article points out, the studies of intermediary reports, final reports, information for the international observers, and acting as an observer did not at all make him sure that the elections were in fact up to all relevant international standards.

Abstract: The “electoral culture” is recognized in the scientific literature as an independent scientific structure. The culture itself as a social issue allows for the analysis of the legal culture of the participants of the election process through the prism of their sociological characteristics. In other words, electoral culture of participants of the election process shall stand for a certain “matrix” of the society, including the attitude of people towards law, state, the Constitution, and the right to vote and choose. It is then defined by deeply rooted values, rather than by particular problems in life.

Abstract: The social conscience of people in Russia changed dramatically in the period from 1995 to 2005 due to abrupt change in all social spheres. There came a people with different morals – of absolute individualism and the sense that everything is allowed (even if it is legally prohibited) and at the same time of anger and unwillingness to accept unjust enrichment of some people, while most people remain in poverty.

Abstract: Under the current military policy in Russia in 2006 – 2010 500000 people shall be retired from the army, and it is obvious that there is need for a concept of social protection of retired military servicemen. Creation of such a concept, in turn, calls not only for changes in the current legislation, but also for a scientific approach to many topical issues, and first of all, to social guarantees.

Abstract: In last ten years the social function of the state in the sphere of unemployment changed radically. The former social state used to provide large unemployment fees, which allowed for a worker to wait for a right job for a rather long time. Now the social protection system is aimed at getting the worker back into the workplace as soon as possible. O.V. Rodionova’s article is devoted to the experience of various states in this sphere.

Abstract: The illegal turnover of falsified medications in the Russian Federation is evaluated at 250 – 300 million dollars annually, and about 10% of falsified medications are produced in the CIS and the Baltic States, 60% are made in Russia, and 30 to 50% come from the further foreign states, such as India, China, other Asian countries. The falsified medications include both expensive and cheap ones, neurological, gastrological, cardiac medications, pain-killers, etc.