Abstract: This article examines the impact of the need for maintaining physical and social distancing between people caused by the epidemiological situation upon the organizational-legal means of the Russian judicial system. This implies the concept of “smart” regulation with the use of both traditional means of legal regulation (prohibitions, permits, obligations, sanctions, incentives) and tools of psychological, educational, and information influence. At the same time, distancing is viewed as a factor that prompts changes in the forms of legal activity, as well as the result of transformations taking place in society. Such organizational-legal means affected by the need for physical and social distancing, suggest using video conferencing systems, online sessions, change in the procedure for submitting procedural and other documents, familiarization with audio protocols of court hearing and other documents in digital format, as well as restrictions for presence in the courthouse. The author determines the advantages and disadvantages of the innovations. The conclusion is made that such restrictions must be temporary only to avoid violating the principles of transparency and openness of judicial proceedings.

Abstract: This article carries out a comparative-legal study of the institution of regulatory sandboxes in the Russian Federation and Georgia. Based on the information acquired upon the request of the National Bank of Georgia, the author examines the normative regulation of regulatory laboratories of Georgia – Decree of the President of the National Bank of Georgia No. 110/04 of May 25, 2020 “On the Approval of Establishment of Regulatory Laboratories by the National Bank of Georgia and their Use", as well as its comparison with the federal law and normative acts that regulate experimental legal regimes in Russia. The application of comparative-legal methods allows determining the similarities and differences in legal regulation and practice of implementation of such institutions in the Russian Federation and Georgia. Description is given to the terminological differences in legislation on legal experiments of the two countries, as well as the differences in the model of legal regulation of the institution of experimental legal regimes: comprehensive regulation by means of the federal law and normative acts in the Russian Federation, and overall regulation solely by the Decree of the President of the National Bank of Georgia. Georgia allows experimental regulation applicable exclusively to financial technologies, while the Russian Federation allows for a broader scope of implementation. This substantiates the differences in the requirements of initiators and authorities that regulate such legal experiments. The conclusion is made on the more successful practice of implementation of legal experiments in the sphere of financial technologies in Georgia, despite the absence of special law or large array of developing legislation.

Abstract: This article reviews the topical practical issues of implementation of the institution of experimental legal regimes into the Russian legal system due to adoption of the new Federal Law of 07.31.2020 No.258-FZ “On Experimental Legal Regimes in the Sphere of Digital Innovations in the Russian Federation”. The author analyzes the social context that changed in the course of discussion and revision of the draft law, as well as examines the problems of harmonization of the current legislation with the new legislation. The question is raised on the adequacy of exceptions with regards to processing of personal data for the participants of experimental legal regimes; the presence of parallel regulation of the sphere of digital innovations is indicated. Analysis is conducted on the legislative novels in the area of establishment and regulation of experimental legal regimes in the Russian Federation. The conclusion is made on the timeliness of adoption of the Federal Law “On Experimental Legal Regimes in the Sphere of Digital Innovations” and feasibility of usage of its legal mechanisms in the changing conditions caused by the spread of coronavirus infection COVID-19. The need is underlined for determination of the hierarchy of sources and model of legal regulation for the experimental legal regimes to exclude parallel regulation of the uniform social relations by various federal laws, as well for further elaboration of special legislative norms on personal data protection applicable to experimental legal regimes that involve big data analysis.