RUDN Journal of Law

The development of legal regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) represents an urgent priority for most contemporary states. However, progress remains uneven, with few nations achieving a balance between AI technological advancement and protections for human rights, the rule of law, and national security in public applications. The article examines the national and international experiences in AI legal regulation, drawing on cases from Russia, China, and India. The research aims to generate evidence-based legal knowledge on AI and its integration across public life spheres, while identifying key trends and primary regulatory directions. The methodology employs comprehensive analysis of legislative and scholarly sources to examine disctinctive features of AI legal regimes, achievements and shortcomings, and associated risks and threats. In conclusion, the legislation of each examined country reflects nationally specific AI regulation, grounded on domestic priorities alongside recognized international norms and principles. These frameworks pursue innovation while mitigating security risks and human rights violations, positioning nations competitively in the global AI technological race.

The article examines the potential and limitations of using artificial intelligence (AI), primarily large language models, in legal research and editorial practice from the perspective of an academic journal editor. Its purpose is to show how AI can accelerate routine scholarly and editorial tasks (search and selection of sources, preparation of factual background, structuring and preliminary editing of texts), while simultaneously raising methodological, ethical and responsibility-related questions for the human author. Methodologically, the study relies on a qualitative, analytic-descriptive approach, grounded in the author’s own editorial experience with AI tools, targeted test interactions with neural networks for typical tasks of a legal researcher, and selective analysis of open materials illustrating risks and practices of AI use. The article presents examples of interactions between the researcher and a generative artificial intelligence system, serving as illustrative material for the formulation of prompts and the analysis of AI-generated responses across various stages in the preparation of a legal scholarly article. The article demonstrates that AI can significantly reduce the time needed to search and analyze large volumes of legal information and to bring the formal quality of a manuscript (structure, style, fact-checking) in line with high editorial standards, but that AI-generated output remains only an intermediate, auxiliary product that must be verified against primary sources and checked for the correctness of terminology and context (especially when translating from one language into another). Particular attention is paid to the uncertainty and potential error in empirical material compiled with AI assistance (for example, when aggregating cross-jurisdictional data on AI in courts), as well as to the dangers of uncritical reliance on automatically generated content. The conclusion argues that AI should be treated as an instrument supporting and enhancing the researcher’s and editor’s competencies rather than replacing them: the final decisions concerning content, interpretation and publication, as well as responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of the text, rest unequivocally with the human author.

The global debate on the rule of law is undergoing a methodological crisis in empirical research, manifested in problems of operationalization, cultural bias in indices, and a persistent gap between formal institutions and actual practices. This article aims to trace the evolution of approaches to the rule of law in legal sociology, identify the methodological limitations of three successive “generations” of studies, and outline prospects for synthetic methodology. The analysis draws on key works in socio-legal studies (R. Abel, M. Galanter, M. Hertogh, N. Cheesman, T. Ginsburg) and on a critical reading of global index methodologies (World Justice Project, Worldwide Governance Indicators). Methodologically, it employs historical-sociological and comparative-legal approaches. The first generation of empirical research - classic “gap studies” - demonstrated the systemic failure of legal reforms that ignore the social context, revealing the divergence between official legal norms and everyday normative orders. The second generation, centered on quantitative indices, made the rule of law measurable across countries but produced new difficulties, including expert dependence, data endogeneity, and the risk that governments use indicators to simulate reform rather than constrain power. The third generation, associated with ethnography and studies of legal consciousness, demonstrated the cultural embeddedness and plurality of legal meanings, while also exposing the challenges of aggregating and generalizing qualitative findings for comparative assessment. Overcoming the current methodological impasse requires a multi-dimensional research design that integrates quantitative assessment of institutions, qualitative analysis of legal consciousness, and everyday legality, and sustained theoretical reflections on law’s relationship to power. Such an interdisciplinary program should focus not on abstract rankings, but on the concrete ways in which arbitrary power is constrained (or legitimated) within specific socio-political contexts.

The progressive development of international legal regulation mechanisms across diverse domains of public relations, coupled with the expanding participation of non-state actors in shaping the international agenda, has fostered the emergence of distinct branches of interstate cooperation. This evolution presents a doctrinal challenge in conceptualizing these autonomous spheres, leading to the widespread scholarly adoption of the term “international legal regime”. Despite its utility, Russian international legal doctrine lacks a comprehensive study systematically examining the substantive nature and scope of application of this concept. The article examines the concept and essence of the international legal regime as a key element of the contemporary international legal system. It traces the evolution of theoretical approaches to defining “regime” in international relations, international law, and legal theory, with primary focus on the formation and functioning of international legal regimes amid globalization and fragmentation of international law. The analysis employs a multifaceted methodological framework, encompassing historical genesis, theoretical conceptualization, case studies, and systemic modeling. The historical-legal method traces the evolution of international legal regimes in the context of globalization and fragmentation. The study posits that specialized, functionally autonomous regimes - in domains such as environmental protection, international trade, human rights - emerge as responses to the growing complexity of regulated subject matter and the imperative for tailored mechanisms to address transnational challenges. Comparative legal analysis juxtaposes definitional approaches across domestic and foreign doctrines, while formal juridical methods yield precise definitions, classifications, and structural components of international legal regimes.

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of DNA fingerprinting in establishing paternity and its application as evidence in criminal proceedings, alongside the legal and ethical challenges of protecting genetic privacy. It analyzes the evolution of the Algerian judicial system and the development of legal frameworks for resolving paternity disputes, including the influence of traditional kinship recognition methods on adopting modern scientific techniques like DNA fingerprinting. In criminal investigations, DNA fingerprinting have proven highly effective for identifying perpetrators, enhancing investigative accuracy, and promoting fairer justice administration. However, its use raises complex legal and ethical concerns regarding potential misuse of genetic data. The study concludes that a balanced legislative approach is essential to safeguard personal rights while preserving DNA fingerprinting as a reliable evidentiary tool, without undermining core privacy principles. It further proposes legislative solutions that meet justice requirements in paternity and criminal cases, incorporating stringent safeguards against genetic privacy violations.

Since 2022, the Russian economy has faced new challenges arising from intensified sanctions pressure. The protective countermeasures introduced by Russia have significantly affected the operations of foreign investors. This raises the question of whether these measures are excessive or, conversely, consistent with the investment-regulatory policies of other states aimed at attracting foreign capital. The article examines the conditions under which foreigners are admitted to the national economies of the United States and the European Union - both of which pursue sanctions policies toward Russia - as well as of countries under U.S. and EU economic sanctions, including China and Iran. The similarity of national-security and strategic interests in the current historical context allows for the identification of common features and specific characteristics in the legal regulation of foreign investment. The study employs general-scientific methods (analysis and synthesis) as well as special legal methods (formal-legal and comparative-legal analysis). The findings indicate that the legal systems considered establish different conditions and procedures for state control over foreign investment, reflecting the peculiarities of each national legal order. The underlying objectives of restricting foreign presence, however, are broadly similar: ensuring national defense and state security and protecting the country from external and internal threats. The sectors of economic activity subject to foreign-investment control are determined by each state according to its geopolitical environment and level of economic development.

The Russian civil law serves as the foundation for the formation of sustainable social models and for strengthening the state’s political positions. An insufficient understanding of the axiological principles underpinning legal structures impedes the development of civil society and the modernization of sociopolitical relations. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the fundamental provisions of the axiological nature of civil law, taking into account ontological, anthropological, and phenomenological principles. This conceptual clarification is intended to create a basis for aligning the exising state of civil law with public expectations regarding sustainable sociopolitical development. The integration of sociological and axiological methods makes it possible to systematize civil law as a system of value-laden structures within society. The comparative-legal approach provides the framework for critical analysis and comparative assessment of different types of legal thought in the process of refining the principles of civil law. Within the tradition of continental law, the domestic legal system is characterized as a normative dogma operating on the principles of positive law. The dominance of this positivist-oriented approach tends to overestimate the role of statutory legislation grounded in a pragmatic methodology, justified by the recognition of positivist legal principles as the primary source of civil law. At the same time, natural law remains an integral component of legal thought, and its effectiveness is evident throughout the historical development of legal systems. The close interconnection between legal dogma and legal history confirms the significance of the axiological dimention and comparative methodology. Until now, however, these approaches have remained largely confined to commentary on the Russian legal system, which restricts the further evolution of civil law. The modernization of state-body operations and civil law institutions becomes possible through the recognition and systematic ordering of ideological-value elements derived from various sources - such as ancient philosophy, theology, and culture. This would enable the modelling of public legal consciousness in a way that effectively addresses social chellenges and reinforces national-state policy.

The article examines the legal and practical aspects of implementing Federal Law N 328-FZ aimed at reducing the bureaucratic burden on the teaching staff in Russian higher education institutions. Despite the good intentions of the legislators, the practical implementation of the new norms faces a number of legal conflicts and organizational challenges. The article aims to comprehensively analyze the potential and risks of implementing Federal Law N 328-FZ, identify legal and practical barriers to the debureaucratization of higher education, and develop recommendations for optimizing the regulatory framework and organizational mechanisms for reducing the bureaucratic burden on teaching staff. The study relies on an analysis of the text of Federal Law N 328-FZ, comparing its provisions with current educational and labor legislation and bylaws. The methods of legal, comparative, and institutional analysis, as well as the synthesis of theoretical and empirical data, are used. As a result of the study, key contradictions between the new law and the existing regulatory framework are identified, and practical difficulties in implementing the requirements of the law in the context of the existing university management system are shown. The international experience of debureaucratization of higher education is analyzed, and recommendations for improving Russian legislation and organizational practices are proposed. The implementation of Federal Law N 328-FZ requires comprehensive work on harmonizing the regulatory framework, transforming management processes, and introducing digital document management technologies. Only a balanced combination of legal and organizational innovations will make it possible to achieve a real reduction in the bureaucratic burden in higher education. The results obtained contribute to the understanding of the complex processes of reforming the higher education system and contribute to the development of a balanced approach to solving the problem of bureaucratization in the academic environment.

The abstract examines the legal and organizational foundations for the introduction of state fingerprint registration in the Republic of Kazakhstan, with a focus on the material and technical aspects of its implementation. The aim of the study is to identify and systematize the legal, organizational, and technical dimentions of mandatory fingerprint registration in Kazakhstan, and to assess the potential for applying Russian experience in this field. The author emphasizes that fingerprint identification is one of the key tools for strengthening national and public security, enabling the timely identification of individuals who may pose a potential threat, as well as improving the effectiveness of law enforcement activities and border control. The application of analytical, synthetic, systematization, and comparative-legal methods made it possible to identify the specific features of the implementation of state fingerprint registration in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The paper examines the competences of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Security Committee, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which jointly form a comprehensive infrastructure for the organization and management of the fingerprint registration process. Technical aspects are considered separately, including the advantages of digital inkless fingerprinting stations. It is emphasized that the effective functioning of systems for the collection, processing, and storage of fingerprint information requires modern hardware and software complexes, as well as cryptographic methods for protecting biometric data, aimed at minimizing the risk of unauthorized access. In addition, the article analyzes the Russian experience of mandatory dactyloscopic registration of foreigners, which helps to assess the prospects for improving Kazakhstan’s legislation and practice in introducing such mechanisms, as well as to identify potential problems. As a result, the study provides a holistic view of the opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of state-level fingerprint registration.

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