‘We Put Image of Desired Future in Constitution.’ Russian Constitution Author Sergey Shakhray Gives Open Lecture at FinU

On December 12, 2023, on the 30th anniversary of the Russian Constitution Adoption by popular vote, one of the main developers of the Basic Law of the country, Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation, Professor, Scientific Director of the Faculty of International Economic Relations of the FinU Sergey Shakhray gave an open lecture at the FinU.

The meeting was opened by Stanislav Prokofiev, FinU Rector, noting Sergey Shakhray’s contribution to the development of educational, scientific and legislative activities, as well as the diversity, importance and fundamental nature of the implemented projects.

“Sergey Shakhray is a legend of Russian politics and public service. Throughout his career, he has created important and necessary projects, the main of which is the draft text of the Constitution of Russia, according to which we now live. The working group, headed by Sergey Shakhray and Sergey Alekseev, was able to create such a document – a system of distribution of powers, and responsibilities – which allows Russia to get out of a variety of situations. The Constitution is a living, developing mechanism that guarantees Russia its sovereignty, progressive and long–term development,” Stanislav Prokofiev explained.

As part of an open dialogue with the administration, students and faculty of the FinU, Sergey Shakhray spoke about the process of working on the main document of Russia, outlined the main features and mechanisms of the Constitution that allow it to remain relevant, noting that it is the ability to read the Basic Law that allows you to find solutions to complex issues.

Sergey Shakhray stressed that the process of state reforming began with the creation of the judiciary and the formation of the most modern judicial system in the world. This decision still has a significant impact on the country’s political and economic system.

Describing the political conditions in which the Basic Law of the country was developed, Sergey Shakhray said that over several years of political conflicts, the system of government turned out to be completely unbalanced and the Constitution was faced with the task of creating new mechanisms.

“In the Constitution, we have laid down the image of the desired future and described the procedures for solving urgent problems. The procedural approach has made the Constitution very stable and self-developing. This means that the political regime in the country can be modified and there is no need to change the Basic Law, it is enough to adopt a federal constitutional law and interpret the Constitution,” the professor commented.

Sergey Shakhray also noted the role of the non-classical separation of powers and mechanisms for adjusting legal norms in accordance with the real political situation.

After the lecture, the students personally asked Sergey Shakhray questions about the models and concepts of the basic laws of different states, the search for a compromise in the development of the final draft of the Russian Constitution and the country’s laws hierarchy. The authors of the best questions received as a gift the Constitution of the Russian Federation and books by Sergei Shakhray with his autograph.