An expert forum on transformation of local self-government in Russia was held at the Chelyabinsk City Duma. The event, moderated by the Director of the SUSU Institute of Law, Doctor of Sciences (Law), Professor Elena Titova and Associate Professor of the Department of Constitutional and Administrative Law, Candidate of Sciences (Law) Nataliia Koneva, brought together heads of representative bodies of municipalities from the Ural, South, Volga, and Far Eastern Federal Districts.
Chairman of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation, Doctor of Sciences (Law), Professor Pavel Krasheninnikov addressed the participants with the welcome speech. Chairman of Chelyabinsk City Duma Chairman Sergey Buyakov and Chelyabinsk Mayor Aleksey Loshkin emphasized the importance of systematic work in this format.
The discussion focused on analysing and developing approaches to implementing the provisions of Federal Law No. 33-ФЗ as of March 20, 2025 “On General Principles of Local Self-government Organization in a Unified System of Public Authority”. Participants thoroughly examined new mechanisms for interaction between municipalities and government bodies, issues of redistribution of powers, and the specifics of law-making at the local level.
“The experts in detail covered new approaches to the distribution of authorities and the integration of municipalities into the overall public authority system. One of the main ideas expressed in the presentations was understanding of how local self-government integrates into a unified public authority system not as a takeover, but as the creation of effective cooperation. The new law establishes a framework for this cooperation, allowing it to be filled with viable legal structures that will resolve existing contradictions in the delineation of powers,” said Elena Titova.
The main forum speakers were State Duma deputy of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on State Building and Legislation, Candidate of Sciences (Law) Dmitriy Vyatkin; Head of the Department of Constitutional and International Law of Ural State University of Economics, Doctor of Sciences (Law), Professor Aleksandr Savoskin; and Head of the Department of Administrative Law of the Faculty of Law of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Doctor of Sciences (Law), Professor Nikolay Peshin.
“As part of a lively discussion, the participants talked about both the theoretical aspects of the new concept and certain practical cases that municipalities are facing already. The reform is aimed at strengthening the vertical chain of responsibility. It is important that local authorities not only feel supported by the state but also be involved in decision-making. The dialogue we are having here today is a clear example of this,” emphasized the experts.
Elena Titova noted the high level of engagement of the SUSU academic community and its role in the law enforcement practice:
“Participation in such discussions helps the Institute of Law stay at the forefront of the current legislative changes and influence the development of modern legal practice. Direct dialogue among legislators, leading legal scholars, and local practitioners is key to the successful implementation of the reform.”
The SUSU staff members, such as Vice-Rector for Student and Social Affairs, Associate Professor of the Department of Economic Theory, Regional Economics, and Public Administration, who is also the Chairperson of the Chelyabinsk Civic Chamber, Anastasiia Lapo, and Chairman of the Chelyabinsk Youth Chamber, Viktor Froydenberger, also participated in the roundtable discussion.
Participation in the forum allowed SUSU experts not only to discuss their positions with representatives of the federal legislative branch and leading legal experts of our country but also to confirm our university’s role as a leading platform for developing relevant legal solutions for public administration in our region.