Abstract: The subject of this research is the content of the doctrine of “protection of legal expectations” in the countries of general and continental law, and the principle of support of the trust in the law and state actions in the context of the principle of rule of law, recognition of human rights and liberties, natural justice, analysis of the theory and practice of application of general constitutional and branch principles, as well as the issues of their realization (including the principle of the rule of law) in the Russian law with consideration of normativistic legal understanding. The main conclusions of the conducted research consists in the absence of a somewhat formalized system of official views upon relationship between the branches of public authority with the citizens, impeding the realization of the principle of the rule of law and creation of an efficient state administration (which would include the legislative and executive activity, and justice), the declared by the Constitution of the Russian Federation rule of law, as well as recognition and respect of the human rights and liberties. The content of the principle of support of citizens’ trust in the law and state action, formulated by the Constitution Court of the Russian Federation, in contrast to the Western doctrine, first and foremost, does not cover the entirety of the range of relations emerging in the course of realization of authority by the branches of public authority, and secondly, in light of the absence of formalization of this principle in the specific legal norms, it limits the courts in its application.